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  • nitrogen-fixing
    nitrogen-fixing
    adjective
    involved in or aiding the process of nitrogen fixation.
  • nitrogen fixing
    nitrogen fixing
    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.

nitrogen-fixing

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

adjective

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


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.


Etymology

Origin of nitrogen-fixing

First recorded in 1895–1900

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.

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

Scientists worldwide are working to understand the genetic and molecular basis of this natural nitrogen-fixing ability.

From Science Daily • Dec. 9, 2025

"For decades, scientists have been trying to develop cereal crops that produce active root nodules, or trying to colonize cereals with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, without much success. We used a different approach," Blumwald said.

From Science Daily • Nov. 24, 2025

"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

The nitrogen-fixing rhizobia in root nodules, the mycetomes of insects, and the enzyme-producing colonies in the digestive tracts of many animals are variations of this meticulously symmetrical symbiosis.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

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