nitrous oxide

nitrous oxide

noun

Definition of NITROUS OXIDE

: a colorless gas N₂O that when inhaled produces loss of sensibility to pain preceded by exhilaration and sometimes laughter, that is used especially as an anesthetic in dentistry and as a fuel, and that is an atmospheric pollutant and greenhouse gas produced by combustion —called also laughing gas

First Known Use of NITROUS OXIDE

1798

nitrous oxide

noun    (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of NITROUS OXIDE

: a colorless gas N₂O that when inhaled produces loss of sensibility to pain preceded by exhilaration and sometimes laughter and is used especially as an anesthetic in dentistry—called also laughing gas

nitrous oxide

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Inorganic compound, one of the oxides of nitrogen. A colourless gas with a pleasantly sweetish odour and taste, it has an analgesic effect when inhaled; it is used as an anesthetic (often called just “gas”) in dentistry and surgery. This effect is preceded by mild hysteria, sometimes with laughter, hence the name laughing gas. It is also used as a propellant in food aerosols and as a leak detector.

Variants of NITROUS OXIDE

nitrous oxide or laughing gas