nitrous oxide

noun

: a colorless gas N₂O that when inhaled produces loss of sensibility to pain preceded by exhilaration and sometimes laughter, that is used especially as an anesthetic in dentistry and as a fuel, and that is an atmospheric pollutant and greenhouse gas produced by combustion

called also laughing gas

compare nitric oxide

Examples of nitrous oxide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s More Potent Than Carbon Dioxide Emitting just 1 ton of nitrous oxide—a common ingredient in synthetic fertilizer—is roughly equivalent to emitting 300 tons of carbon dioxide. —JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024

While the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is handling the police investigation, Duncan says that the explosion damaged most evidence that could help determine the cause of the fire, which was then fueled by nitrous oxide and butane. —Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 26 Apr. 2024

Thousands of cans of nitrous oxide and butane were inside the building, the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office said. —Christina Hall, USA TODAY, 26 Apr. 2024

So adding these nitrogen-respiring bacteria to soil could help decrease nitrous oxide emissions. —Diana Gitig, Ars Technica, 1 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

nitrous oxide

noun

: a colorless gas that when inhaled causes loss of the ability to feel pain and sometimes produces laughter and is used especially in dentistry

called also laughing gas

Medical Definition

nitrous oxide

noun

: a colorless gas N₂O that when inhaled produces loss of sensibility to pain preceded by exhilaration and sometimes laughter and is used especially as an anesthetic in dentistry

called also laughing gas