nitrify

American  

[nahy-truh-fahy] / ˈnaɪ trəˌfaɪ /

verb (used with object)

nitrified, nitrifying

1. 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.

2. Chemistry. to infuse with nitrogen or nitrogen compounds.

3. Chemistry. to treat or combine with nitrogen or its compounds.

4. Chemistry. (formerly) to convert into niter.

---

nitrify British  

/ ˈnaɪtrɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to treat or cause to react with nitrogen or a nitrogen compound

2. to treat (soil) with nitrates

3. (of nitrobacteria) to convert (ammonium compounds) into nitrates by oxidation

---

Other Word Forms

• nitrifiable adjective

Etymology

Origin of nitrify

First recorded in 1820–30; from French nitrifier; nitr-, niter, -i-, -fy

Example Sentences

This is the reason why strong urine solutions do not nitrify.

From Manures and the principles of manuring by Aikman, Charles Morton

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