Main Entry:

ozone

Pronunciation:

\ˈō-ˌzōn\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

German Ozon, from Greek ozōn, present participle of ozein to smell — more at odor

Date:

circa 1840

1 : a triatomic very reactive form of oxygen that is a bluish irritating gas of pungent odor, that is a major air pollutant in the lower atmosphere but a beneficial component of the upper atmosphere, and that is used for oxidizing, bleaching, disinfecting, and deodorizing 2 : pure and refreshing air <relished the ozone of morning>

— ozo·nic \ō-ˈzō-nik, -ˈzä-\ adjective