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.

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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

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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

nitrate Scientific  

/ nī′trāt′ /

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

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Other Word Forms

• nitration noun

Etymology

Origin of nitrate

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

Example Sentences

In this process, copper oxide acts as an important catalyst in the electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction, a more environmentally friendly approach compared to the traditional Haber-Bosch method.

From Science Daily

The movie’s recent restoration—courtesy of Photoplay Productions, using materials largely held by the Danish Film Institute—is a revelation thanks to its primary source: amber-toned nitrate prints struck from original camera negatives.

From The Wall Street Journal

Somehow, he had managed to get his hands on the ingredients for gunpowder - potassium nitrate, sulphur and charcoal.

From BBC

Somehow, he managed to get his hands on the ingredients for gunpowder - potassium nitrate, sulphur and charcoal.

From BBC

The cancelled tests are for so-called inorganic pollutants - substances such as nitrates and phosphates that can indicate sewage or agricultural pollution.

From BBC