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:
This is the reason why strong urine solutions do not nitrify.
From Manures and the principles of manuring by Charles Morton Aikman
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
It is at least quite probable that all the organic forms of nitrogen have first to be converted into ammonia ere they are nitrified.
From Manures and the principles of manuring by Charles Morton Aikman
As found in suspension in a freshly nitrified solution, it consists largely of nearly spherical corpuscles, varying extremely in size.
From Manures and the principles of manuring by Charles Morton Aikman
Far stronger solutions of ammonium chloride can be nitrified than of ammonium carbonate, if the solution of the former salt is supplied with calcium carbonate.
From Scientific American Supplement, No. 470, January 3, 1885 by Various
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
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
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
There are apparently several different kinds of nitrifying bacteria with different powers.
From The Story of Germ Life by H. W. (Herbert William) Conn
To this class of organism the nitrifying organisms belong.
From Manures and the principles of manuring by Charles Morton Aikman
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