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nitrate

American  
[nahy-treyt, -trit, nahy-treyt] / ˈnaɪ treɪt, -trɪt, ˈnaɪ treɪt /

noun

  1. Chemistry. a salt or ester of nitric acid, or any compound containing the univalent group –ONO 2 or NO 3 .

  2. fertilizer consisting of potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate.

  3. nitrocellulose.

  4. Informal. nitrate film.


verb (used with object)

nitrated, nitrating
  1. to treat with nitric acid or a nitrate.

  2. to convert into a nitrate.

nitrate British  
/ ˈnaɪtreɪt /

noun

  1. any salt or ester of nitric acid, such as sodium nitrate, NaNO 3

  2. a fertilizer consisting of or containing nitrate salts

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to treat with nitric acid or a nitrate

  2. to convert or be converted into a nitrate

  3. to undergo or cause to undergo the chemical process in which a nitro group is introduced into a molecule

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
nitrate Scientific  
/ nītrāt′ /
  1. A salt or ester of nitric acid, containing the group NO 3. Nitrates dissolve extremely easily in water and are an important component of the nitrogen cycle.

  2. Compare nitrite


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of nitrate

First recorded in 1785–95; nitr- + -ate 2

Vocabulary lists containing nitrate

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.

Nitrate offers a lot of promise as an oral health prebiotic.

From Salon • Jan. 30, 2024

"Nitrate runoff and nitrogen use efficiency are some of the preeminent issues facing agriculture," said Sanguinet, associate professor in WSU's Department of Crop and Soil Sciences.

From Science Daily • Sep. 19, 2023

You don't need to have been there and bought the bucket hat to know the songs: Parklife, Common People, Supersonic, Connection, Girl From Mars, Animal Nitrate.

From BBC • Jul. 15, 2023

Nitrate levels exceeding 10 milligrams per liter can cause serious health risks if consumed, according to the EPA.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 23, 2023

Powder, two, three, or four grains, Nitrate Potash, five, ten, or fifteen grains; Ipecacuanha, two, three, or four.

From The Dog by Dinks