plural nitrates
1
: a salt or ester of nitric acid
2
: sodium nitrate or potassium nitrate used as a fertilizer
3
: any of several nitric-acid esters of cellulose : nitrocellulose
especially
: a product (such as celluloid film) made from cellulose nitrate
In the case of the Clark Gable Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), the nitrate original was destroyed before anyone noticed the transferred soundtrack was out of sync. —
Roy Hemming
Roy Hemming Examples of nitrate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some have suggested that the nitrates in beetroot juice might help blood vessels relax and thus increase blood flow.
—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2026
Key Takeaways Eating deli meat can increase your blood pressure due to its high salt content and additives like nitrates.
—
Maggie O'Neill,
Verywell Health,
4 July 2026
Research in Frontiers in Oral Health found that using it twice daily can strip out the nitrate-reducing bacteria the body relies on for healthy blood pressure regulation.
—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 July 2026
The lab’s Environmental Restoration Department had been working to remediate the site and clean groundwater that had been contaminated with nitrates, a nitrogen compound found in bombs.
—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for nitrate
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Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2026
Key Takeaways Eating deli meat can increase your blood pressure due to its high salt content and additives like nitrates.
—
Maggie O'Neill,
Verywell Health,
4 July 2026
Research in Frontiers in Oral Health found that using it twice daily can strip out the nitrate-reducing bacteria the body relies on for healthy blood pressure regulation.
—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 July 2026
The lab’s Environmental Restoration Department had been working to remediate the site and clean groundwater that had been contaminated with nitrates, a nitrogen compound found in bombs.
—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for nitrate
Cite this Entry
“Nitrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nitrate. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nitrate
noun
ni·trate
ˈnī-ˌtrāt 
-trət
1
: a chemical compound formed by the reaction of nitric acid with another substance
2
: nitrate of sodium or potassium used as a fertilizer
Medical Definition
nitrate
noun
ni·trate
ˈnī-ˌtrāt, -trət
: a salt or ester of nitric acid
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