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

All over TikTok, teens are getting high on nitrous oxide by misusing dispensers by the company Galaxy Gas intended for culinary appliances. —Katixa Espinoza, Them, 10 Oct. 2024

Dangers of misusing nitrous oxide The originalpurpose of nitrous oxide is for use in medical settings, such as relaxing patients for dental procedures, Saltz said. —Kristen Rogers, CNN, 20 Sep. 2024

Earlier this week, authorities said that the building was not supposed to contain the butane and nitrous oxide tanks that were found on the property. —Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 14 Mar. 2024

Achieving that through emission reductions alone will be extremely difficult, since some emissions, such as of methane and nitrous oxide from agriculture, are nearly impossible to eliminate. —Fred Krupp, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2019

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