nitride

American

[nahy-trahyd, -trid] / ˈnaɪ traɪd, -trɪd /

noun

Chemistry.

a compound, containing two elements only, of which the more electronegative one is nitrogen.

nitride British

/ ˈnaɪtraɪd /

noun

a compound of nitrogen with a more electropositive element, for example magnesium nitride, Mg 3 N 2

"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

Etymology

Origin of nitride

1840–50; nitr- + -ide ( def. )

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.

By stacking two patterned silicon nitride layers and rotating them relative to each other, the researchers can create new optical properties that do not exist in a single layer.

From Science Daily • Mar. 21, 2026

To reach this conclusion, the researchers tested DNA using both glass and silicon nitride nanopores across a wide range of voltages and conditions.

From Science Daily • Feb. 9, 2026

The company is developing new gallium nitride and silicon carbide power chips to support Nvidia’s artificial-intelligence infrastructure.

From Barron's • Oct. 14, 2025

We’re looking at new materials, like gallium nitride and silicon carbide, to drive new energy density and energy efficiency.

From Barron's • Oct. 8, 2025

The difference is that, in this case, the stronger fibers are borazon—boron nitride formed under tremendous pressure—while the softer matrix is composed of tungsten carbide.

From Thin Edge by Garrett, Randall

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