nitrate

noun

ni·​trate ˈnī-ˌtrāt How to pronounce nitrate (audio)
-trət
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

Examples of nitrate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As nitrate contamination threatens the well-being of rural residents, there is an urgent need for policymakers to reimagine the EPA's role in protecting these communities. Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025 There is a certain volume restriction on how much water can run through the nitrate removal system, Weber said. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 16 June 2025 The project also includes pipelines to deliver the water for treatment and the possibility of upgrading one filtering site to nitrate treatment in the future. Lauren Lifke, Baltimore Sun, 12 June 2025 Thousands of private wells across the upper Midwest had tested positive for excess nitrates. Dave Hage, Literary Hub, 27 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for nitrate

Word History

Etymology

French, from nitrique

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nitrate was in 1788

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nitrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nitrate. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

nitrate

noun
ni·​trate ˈnī-ˌtrāt How to pronounce nitrate (audio)
-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
: a salt or ester of nitric acid

More from Merriam-Webster on nitrate

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