superoxide

American

[soo-per-ok-sahyd, -sid] / ˌsu pərˈɒk saɪd, -sɪd /

noun

Chemistry.

a compound containing the univalent ion O 2 − .
peroxide.

superoxide British

/ ˌsuːpərˈɒksaɪd /

noun

any of certain metal oxides that contain the O 2 ^– ion

potassium superoxide, KO2

"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

Etymology

Origin of superoxide

First recorded in 1840–50; super- + oxide

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.

These findings rule out algae as the source of superoxide and instead indicate that the coral animal itself or its bacterial symbionts are the sources.

From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2023

She also dove in Alvin to measure superoxide with SOLARIS.

From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2023

As a highly reactive compound, superoxide only lasts in the water for seconds.

From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2023

On the flip side, over production of superoxide can have detrimental effects on an animal, and can degrade essential proteins in the body and break down DNA.

From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2023

One molecule of permanganate equals one molecule of nitric oxide when manganous sulphate is used, since no part of the permanganate employed in this method is reduced below the superoxide condition.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 561, October 2, 1886 by Various

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