nitrogen

noun

ni·​tro·​gen ˈnī-trə-jən How to pronounce nitrogen (audio)
: a nonmetallic chemical element with atomic number 7 that under standard conditions is a colorless, odorless, inert gas, that constitutes 78 percent of the Earth's atmosphere, and that is used especially in the industrial synthesis of ammonia, as a component of inert atmospheres, and in liquid form as a refrigerant
often used before another noun
the nitrogen cycle
nitrogen fertilizer
see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of nitrogen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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By measuring the distribution of carbon and nitrogen isotopes in the child’s tissues, the study authors then compared the profile to other animals that roamed during that time. Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Dec. 2024 All living things need nitrogen to produce biological building blocks like proteins. Nina Foster, JSTOR Daily, 22 Nov. 2024 Too much nitrogen fertilizer encourages shoot and leaf development at the expense of flowering. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2024 Sulfuric components or nitrogen from car exhaust fumes and industry form acid, dissolving mineral grains. David Bressan, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for nitrogen 

Word History

Etymology

French nitrogène, from nitre niter + -gène -gen

First Known Use

1791, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nitrogen was in 1791

Dictionary Entries Near nitrogen

Cite this Entry

“Nitrogen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nitrogen. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

nitrogen

noun
ni·​tro·​gen ˈnī-trə-jən How to pronounce nitrogen (audio)
: a colorless tasteless odorless element that occurs as a gas which makes up 78 percent of the atmosphere and that forms a part of all living tissues see element
nitrogenous adjective

Medical Definition

nitrogen

noun
ni·​tro·​gen ˈnī-trə-jən How to pronounce nitrogen (audio)
: a common nonmetallic element that in the free form is normally a colorless odorless tasteless insoluble inert diatomic gas comprising 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume and that in the combined form is a constituent of biologically important compounds (as proteins, nucleic acids, and alkaloids) and hence of all living cells as well as of industrially important substances (as cyanides, fertilizers, dyes, and antibiotics)
symbol N
see Chemical Elements Table

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