nitrify
Americanverb (used with object)
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Chemistry, Biology. to oxidize (ammonia, ammonium compounds, or free atmospheric nitrogen) to nitrites and then to nitrates, especially in soil by bacterial or other microbial action.
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Chemistry. to infuse with nitrogen or nitrogen compounds.
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Chemistry. to treat or combine with nitrogen or its compounds.
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Chemistry. (formerly) to convert into niter.
verb
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to treat or cause to react with nitrogen or a nitrogen compound
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to treat (soil) with nitrates
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(of nitrobacteria) to convert (ammonium compounds) into nitrates by oxidation
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of nitrify
First recorded in 1820–30; from French nitrifier; see nitr-, niter, -i-, -fy
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.
See Examples For:
A thin layer of solution will nitrify sooner than a deep layer, owing to the larger proportion of oxygen available.
From Scientific American Supplement, No. 470, January 3, 1885 by Various
This is the reason why strong urine solutions do not nitrify.
From Manures and the principles of manuring by Charles Morton Aikman
This theory was most unsatisfactory, as neither solutions of pure ammonia, nor of any of its salts, could be nitrified in the laboratory by simple exposure to air.
From Scientific American Supplement, No. 470, January 3, 1885 by Various
During the twelve days of active nitrification no less than 56 parts of nitrogen per million of soil were nitrified per day.
From Manures and the principles of manuring by Charles Morton Aikman
It would further seem that the nitrogen of the subsoil is less easily nitrified than that of the surface-soil.
From Manures and the principles of manuring by Charles Morton Aikman
By making the nitrification intensive, he was able to obtain considerable quantities of carbon from the nitrified solutions by the process of wet combustion.
From Manures and the principles of manuring by Charles Morton Aikman
Sewage will be thoroughly nitrified only when a sufficient supply of calcium carbonate, or some other base, is available.
From Scientific American Supplement, No. 470, January 3, 1885 by Various
Called brachialactone, it reduces nitrous oxide emissions by blocking enzymatic pathways in nitrifying bacteria.
From Nature ● Sep. 18, 2013
But then nitrifying soil bacteria go to work, wreaking environmental havoc.
From Nature ● Sep. 18, 2013
The presence of earthworms increases the nitrifying powers of the soil bacteria and decreases putrifaction of the soil.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
He prepared vessels and solutions, carefully purified from organic matter, and these solutions he sowed with the nitrifying organism.
From Manures and the principles of manuring by Charles Morton Aikman
The work of the nitrifying germs is called nitrification.
From The First Book of Farming by Charles Landon Goodrich
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