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nitroglycerin

American  
[nahy-truh-glis-er-in] / ˌnaɪ trəˈglɪs ər ɪn /
Also nitroglycerine

noun

Chemistry, Pharmacology.

  1. a colorless, thick, oily, flammable, highly explosive, slightly water-soluble liquid, C 3 H 5 N 3 O 9 , prepared from glycerol with nitric and sulfuric acids: used chiefly as a constituent of dynamite and other explosives, in rocket propellants, and in medicine as a vasodilator in the treatment of angina pectoris.

nitroglycerin Scientific  
/ nī′trō-glĭs′ər-ĭn /

  1. A thick, pale-yellow, explosive liquid formed by treating glycerin with nitric and sulfuric acids. It is used to make dynamite and in medicine to dilate blood vessels. Chemical formula: C 3 H 5 N 3 O 9 .

Etymology

Origin of nitroglycerin

First recorded in 1855–60; nitro- + glycerin

Vocabulary lists containing nitroglycerin

Civil Engineering

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Engineering - High School

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Nitroglycerin, a heart medication for angina and heart attacks, is converted to NO to help relax the blood vessels and increase oxygen flow through the body.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Nitroglycerin becomes so sensitive when it absorbs moisture that even a slight shake can set it off.

From Scientific American • Nov. 14, 2019

Nitroglycerin is very dangerous because it explodes easily; neon poses almost no hazard because it is very unreactive.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

Nitroglycerin will also do good work in these cases, and with high blood tension may be the only safe drug for the patient to have on hand.

From Disturbances of the Heart by Osborne, Oliver T. (Oliver Thomas)

Nitroglycerin, if given hypodermically, should be in dose of 1/100 grain.

From Disturbances of the Heart by Osborne, Oliver T. (Oliver Thomas)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.