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

“We are proud to join this team with a view to establish Europe’s first rare earth oxide and metal-making platform, which will accelerate the realization of a secure, sustainable transatlantic rare earth value chain.”

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

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

The cells produced much less nitric oxide, which helps blood vessels relax and widen, and more endothelin-1, which causes vessels to tighten.

From Science Daily • Mar. 28, 2026

Take quicklime, otherwise known as calcium oxide, and just add water.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Her face was smeared with so much zinc oxide that it looked like she’d fallen nose-first into a frosted cake.

From "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen