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 The crewmates must purge nitrogen from their blood so that when the Dragon capsule is depressurized and exposed to the vacuum of space, the gas doesn’t form bubbles in their bloodstream — a potentially lethal condition. Jackie Wattles, CNN, 19 Aug. 2024 Bird Jam has a Cadillac hubcap and nitrogen tank as its body, with wings attached to a miniature banjo. Jasmine Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2024 Too much nitrogen in the spring can create a weak root system that isn’t able to withstand the heat and drought in summer. Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Aug. 2024 This leaves each of its three nitrogens associated with a hydrogen and allows the positive charge to be distributed among them. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 2 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for nitrogen 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nitrogen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 2 Sep. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on nitrogen

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