nitric

American

[nahy-trik] / ˈnaɪ trɪk /

adjective

Chemistry.

containing nitrogen, usually in the pentavalent state.
of or relating to niter.

nitric British

/ ˈnaɪtrɪk /

adjective

of or containing nitrogen, esp in the pentavalent state

"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

nitric Scientific

/ nī′trĭk /

Containing nitrogen, especially nitrogen with a valence of 5.
Compare nitrous

Other Word Forms

nonnitric

adjective

Etymology

Origin of nitric

1785–95; nitr- + -ic, modeled on French nitrique

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.

Nitric oxide is a gas produced naturally in the body that influences many biological processes.

From Science Daily • Feb. 6, 2026

Nitric oxide is known to lower blood pressure and improve exercise performance.

From Salon • Jan. 30, 2024

Nitric acid is used to make ammonium nitrate for fertilizers and in the manufacture of plastics and dyes.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 15, 2023

Nitric oxide, NO, is an example of an odd-electron molecule; it is produced in internal combustion engines when oxygen and nitrogen react at high temperatures.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

Strong Nitric Acid.—The reaction was more violent than before, the stratum of oil after cooling being darker in color than in the three cases before mentioned.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 488, May 9, 1885 by Various

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