nitrify
Americanverb (used with object)
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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.
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Chemistry. to infuse with nitrogen or nitrogen compounds.
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Chemistry. to treat or combine with nitrogen or its compounds.
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Chemistry. (formerly) to convert into niter.
verb
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to treat or cause to react with nitrogen or a nitrogen compound
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to treat (soil) with nitrates
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(of nitrobacteria) to convert (ammonium compounds) into nitrates by oxidation
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of nitrify
First recorded in 1820–30; from French nitrifier; see nitr-, niter, -i-, -fy
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.
See Examples For:
This is the reason why strong urine solutions do not nitrify.
From Manures and the principles of manuring by Charles Morton Aikman
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
It follows from this that sulphate of ammonia, the most common of ammoniacal manures, is one of the most speedily nitrified when applied to the soil.
From Manures and the principles of manuring by Charles Morton Aikman
As found in suspension in a freshly nitrified solution, it consists largely of nearly spherical corpuscles, varying extremely in size.
From Manures and the principles of manuring by Charles Morton Aikman
It is at least quite probable that all the organic forms of nitrogen have first to be converted into ammonia ere they are nitrified.
From Manures and the principles of manuring by Charles Morton Aikman
It would further seem that the nitrogen of the subsoil is less easily nitrified than that of the surface-soil.
From Manures and the principles of manuring by Charles Morton Aikman
The hard, nitrified rock held out stoutly against the assaults of both iron and gunpowder; and much time was spent in hollowing out the basin in which the lighthouse was to be fixed.
From Triumphs of Invention and Discovery in Art and Science by J. Hamilton Fyfe
But then nitrifying soil bacteria go to work, wreaking environmental havoc.
From Nature ● Sep. 18, 2013
Called brachialactone, it reduces nitrous oxide emissions by blocking enzymatic pathways in nitrifying bacteria.
From Nature ● Sep. 18, 2013
The presence of earthworms increases the nitrifying powers of the soil bacteria and decreases putrifaction of the soil.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
The quantity of nitrifying organism present has also a marked effect.
From Scientific American Supplement, No. 470, January 3, 1885 by Various
The nitrifying germs require phosphoric acid, potash and lime in the soil.
From The First Book of Farming by Charles Landon Goodrich
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