nitrogen-fixing

American  

[nahy-truh-juhn-fik-sing] / ˈnaɪ trə dʒənˌfɪk sɪŋ /

adjective

1. involved in or aiding the process of nitrogen fixation.

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nitrogen fixing Cultural  

1. The conversion of atmospheric nitrogen (which plants cannot absorb) into forms of nitrogen that plants can absorb. Bacteria in the topsoil carry out the conversion.

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Etymology

Origin of nitrogen-fixing

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Researchers at Aarhus University have now identified small receptor changes in plants that cause them to temporarily shut down their immune defenses and enter a cooperative relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

From Science Daily • Dec. 9, 2025

The researchers describe a process in which phosphorus delivered by upwelling deep water and nitrogen supplied by nitrogen-fixing bacteria together fuel the blooms seen over past decades.

From Science Daily • Nov. 19, 2025

The results in Nature Communications find that symbiotic, nitrogen-fixing bacteria can ensure dominance among soil microbes due to its signalling-based communication with the legume plant host.

From Science Daily • May 23, 2024

"For years, we have been finding gene fragments encoding the nitrogen-fixing nitrogenase enzyme, which appeared to belong to one particular non-cyanobacterial nitrogen fixer," says Marcel Kuypers, lead author on the study.

From Science Daily • May 9, 2024

I answer every question correctly and Maestra Eva looks impressed at how the words chlorophyll and respiration and nitrogen-fixing cycle roll off my tongue.

From "The Queen of Water" by Laura Resau