oxide

American  

[ok-sahyd, -sid] / ˈɒk saɪd, -sɪd /

Also oxid

noun

Chemistry.

1. a compound in which oxygen is bonded to one or more electropositive atoms.

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oxide British  

/ ˈɒksaɪd /

noun

1. any compound of oxygen with another element

2. any organic compound in which an oxygen atom is bound to two alkyl or aryl groups; an ether or epoxide

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oxide Scientific  

/ ŏk′sīd′ /

1. A compound of oxygen and another element or radical. Water (H ₂ O) is an oxide.

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Other Word Forms

• oxidic adjective

Etymology

Origin of oxide

First recorded in 1780–90; from French (now oxyde ), blend of ox(ygène) oxygen and (ac)ide acid

Example Sentences

USA Rare Earth invested in Carester, a French rare-earth processing firm, to access its oxide output for a new metal-making facility.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

Jian Zhao, the study's first author, built the device using tungsten for the top electrode, hafnium oxide ceramic in the middle, and graphene for the bottom layer.

From Science Daily • Apr. 7, 2026

Chief among them is getting the right mix of calcium oxide and its proprietary binding agent, so the pellets effectively store energy while holding their shape over many charge-discharge cycles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

An estimated 50% of sterile medical devices in the U.S. are treated with ethylene oxide.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

Chlorine is green and is deadly; nitrous oxide is colorless and makes people giggle.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife