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Synonyms

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.

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
oxide Scientific  
/ ŏk′sīd′ /

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

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

Vocabulary lists containing oxide

Unit 5, Week 3

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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.

Last month, Lynas began producing samarium oxide, a difficult-to-source rare earth in high military demand that is used in heat-resistant magnets for jet fighters and missiles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026

Fibers made with graphene oxide retained their antibacterial properties even after repeated washing, suggesting strong potential for use in clothing, medical fabrics, and other practical applications.

From Science Daily • Apr. 26, 2026

Most existing memristors operate by forming tiny conductive filaments inside metal oxide materials.

From Science Daily • Apr. 23, 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

On their thirtieth wedding anniversary, George gave Margaret a check for one hundred dollars, along with a note scribbled on the back of an aluminum oxide wrapper: “Next 30 years not as rough. Love, George.”

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.