denitrify

[ dee-nahy-truh-fahy ]

verb (used with object)

, de·ni·tri·fied, de·ni·tri·fy·ing.

1. Chemistry, Biology. to reduce (nitrates) to nitrites, ammonia, ammonium compounds, and free atmospheric nitrogen, as in soil by bacteria or other microbes.
2. Chemistry. to remove nitrogen or nitrogen compounds from.

denitrify

/ diːˈnaɪtrɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to undergo or cause to undergo loss or removal of nitrogen compounds or nitrogen

Derived Forms

• deˌnitrifiˈcation, noun

Other Words From

• de·ni·tri·fi·ca·tion [dee-nahy-tr, uh, -fi-, key, -sh, uh, n] noun
• de·ni·tri·fi·er de·ni·tri·fi·ca·tor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of denitrify¹

First recorded in 1890–95; de- + nitrify