nitrogen

[ nahy-truh-juhn ]

/ ˈnaɪ trə dʒən /

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noun Chemistry.

a colorless, odorless, gaseous element that constitutes about four-fifths of the volume of the atmosphere and is present in combined form in animal and vegetable tissues, especially in proteins: used chiefly in the manufacture of ammonia, nitric acid, cyanide, explosives, fertilizer, dyes, as a cooling agent, etc. Symbol: N; atomic weight: 14.0067; atomic number: 7; density: 1.2506 grams/liter at 0°C and 760 millimeters pressure.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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Origin of nitrogen

First recorded in 1785–95; from French nitrogène; see origin at nitro-, -gen

Words nearby nitrogen

nitro compound, nitrocotton, nitrofuran, nitrofurantoin, nitrogelatin, nitrogen, nitrogenase, nitrogen balance, nitrogen base, nitrogen cycle, nitrogen dioxide

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use nitrogen in a sentence

In the stratosphere, this electricity excites mostly nitrogen gas.
Space station sensors saw how weird ‘blue jet’ lightning forms|Maria Temming|February 2, 2021|Science News For Students
In fast-growing appendages that help them move, the sea stars that perished had high amounts of a form of nitrogen found in low oxygen conditions — a sign that those animals may have died from a lack of oxygen.
Some bacteria are suffocating sea stars, turning the animals to goo|Erin Garcia de Jesus|January 20, 2021|Science News
That’s because in the summer months, heat and sunlight react with the precursor gases in the atmosphere, like nitrogen dioxide, creating a toxic cocktail.
What the pandemic can teach us about ways to reduce air pollution|Carolyn Gramling|January 4, 2021|Science News
As Cahn explained, “You can’t control nitrogen without controlling your irrigation water.”
How technology might finally start telling farmers things they didn’t already know|Katie McLean|December 18, 2020|MIT Technology Review

Carbon and nitrogen accumulate in tusks over an elephant’s lifetime through the food the animal eats and the water it drinks.
Ivory from a 16th century shipwreck reveals new details about African elephants|Maria Temming|December 17, 2020|Science News
There is also more nitrogen in his varieties, and this contributes to a quick restart of fermentation after each filtration.
Wine, Watch Out! These Ciders Are Just as Good|Jordan Salcito|July 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Grosvenor Place, which runs alongside the palace, has almost four times the maximum permissible amount of nitrogen dioxide.
Pollution At The Palace|Tom Sykes|February 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Fresh out of jail, Dr. Krim receives an anonymous email to check the liquid nitrogen tanks back at her lab.
Natalie Portman's Dad's Bizarre Novel|Marlow Stern|April 26, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Achatz revamped his restaurant Alinea with a far-out, multi-course menu and futuristic liquid-nitrogen dishes.
Why Chicago Is America's Hottest City|The Daily Beast|February 28, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen, but it cannot be formed by the direct union of these gases.
Elements of Agricultural Chemistry|Thomas Anderson
The form in which nitrogen may be absorbed has given rise to much difference of opinion.
Elements of Agricultural Chemistry|Thomas Anderson
Pigeons' dung, according to Boussingault, contains 8·3 per cent of nitrogen, equivalent to 10·0 of ammonia.
Elements of Agricultural Chemistry|Thomas Anderson
Refuse horse hair generally contains 11 or 12 per cent of nitrogen.
Elements of Agricultural Chemistry|Thomas Anderson
Dry peat of good quality contains about one per cent of nitrogen, and a quantity of ash varying from five to twenty per cent.
Elements of Agricultural Chemistry|Thomas Anderson

British Dictionary definitions for nitrogen

nitrogen

/ (ˈnaɪtrədʒən) /

noun

a colourless odourless relatively unreactive gaseous element that forms 78 per cent (by volume) of the air, occurs in many compounds, and is an essential constituent of proteins and nucleic acids: used in the manufacture of ammonia and other chemicals and as a refrigerant. Symbol: N; atomic no: 7; atomic wt: 14.00674; valency: 3 or 5; density: 1/2506 kg/m³; melting pt: –210.00°C; boiling pt: –195.8°C
(as modifier)nitrogen cycle

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

Scientific definitions for nitrogen

nitrogen

[ nī′trə-jən ]

A nonmetallic element that makes up about 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume, occurring as a colorless, odorless gas. It is a component of all proteins, making it essential for life, and it is also found in various minerals. Nitrogen is used to make ammonia, nitric acid, TNT, and fertilizers. Atomic number 7; atomic weight 14.0067; melting point -209.86°C; boiling point -195.8°C; valence 3, 5. See Periodic Table. See Note at oxygen.

Cultural definitions for nitrogen

nitrogen

A chemical element that makes up about four-fifths of the atmosphere of the Earth. Its symbol is N.

notes for nitrogen

Like carbon, nitrogen is a necessary element in the tissues of living things.