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.

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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.