ammonia

noun am·mo·nia \ ə-ˈmō-nyə \

Updated on: 6 Apr 2018

Definition of ammonia

1 : a pungent colorless gaseous alkaline compound of nitrogen and hydrogen NH₃ that is very soluble in water and can easily be condensed to a liquid by cold and pressure

2 : ammonia water

See ammonia defined for English-language learners

See ammonia defined for kids

Recent Examples of ammonia from the Web

Tests showed the soil and quarries were contaminated with hazards including cyanide, arsenic, mercury, fluorene, ammonia, phenol and other volatile organic compounds.

— frank kummer, Philly.com, "EPA settlement at Upper Merion Superfund site could make way for new apartments," 26 Mar. 2018
It is advised not to use ammonia or bleach when cleaning glass shower doors or hardware.

— stacy argo, Houston Chronicle, "GHBA Remodelers Council: Care for your glass shower doors, enclosures," 22 Feb. 2018
Hydrogen is currently used to upgrade crude oil and synthesize ammonia, a critical building block of the fertilizers applied in modern agriculture.

— melissa c. lott, Scientific American, "This Advance Brings Us a Lot Closer to a "Hydrogen Economy"," 1 May 2017
More locally, KBR technology was licensed for the Ohio Valley Resources ammonia fertilizer plant in Rockport, Ind. — a project that was announced in 2012 but still hasn't gained any traction and was ultimately halted.

— emily hopkins, USA TODAY, "Could this 'clean coal’ plant proposal be an answer to Indiana’s 17 billion tons of reserves?," 19 Mar. 2018
Resolve's costs included $100,000 for removing ammonia refrigerant, and $3.50 per gallon for treating thousands of gallons of fuel and oily water in Seattle.

— author: jim paulin, Anchorage Daily News, "Feds pay $2 million disposing of derelict fishing vessel in Unalaska," 19 Mar. 2018
More locally, KBR technology was licensed for the Ohio Valley Resources ammonia fertilizer plant in Rockport, Ind. — a project that was announced in 2012 but still hasn't gained any traction and was ultimately halted.

— emily hopkins, Indianapolis Star, "Could this 'clean coal’ plant proposal be answer to Indiana’s 17 billion tons of reserves?," 18 Mar. 2018
But the agency is placing bets on everything from novel battery chemistries to catalysts that could convert excess wind energy into ammonia, which could then be used in fertilizer or be used as a fuel source itself.

— brad plumer, New York Times, "Kelp Farms and Mammoth Windmills Are Just Two of the Government’s Long-Shot Energy Bets," 16 Mar. 2018
Launched in 2011, Juno has been peering beneath the planet's thick ammonia clouds.

— chris ciaccia, Fox News, "NASA releases 'unearthly' pictures of Jupiter, showing 9 massive cyclones with Category 5 hurricane wind speeds," 8 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ammonia.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of ammonia

New Latin, from Latin sal ammoniacus sal ammoniac, literally, salt of Ammon, from Greek ammōniakos of Ammon, from Ammōn Ammon, Amun, an Egyptian god near whose temple at the Siwa oasis it was extracted

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1788

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AMMONIA Defined for English Language Learners

ammonia

noun

Definition of ammonia for English Language Learners

: a colorless gas or liquid that has a strong smell and taste and that is used especially in cleaning products

AMMONIA Defined for Kids

ammonia

noun am·mo·nia \ ə-ˈmō-nyə \

Definition of ammonia for Students

1 : a colorless gas that is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen, has a sharp smell and taste, can be easily made liquid by cold and pressure, and is used in cleaning products and in making fertilizers and explosives

2 : a solution of ammonia and water

Medical Dictionary

ammonia

noun am·mo·nia \ ə-ˈmō-nyə \

medical Definition of ammonia

1 : a pungent colorless gaseous alkaline compound of nitrogen and hydrogen NH₃ that is very soluble in water and can easily be condensed to a liquid by cold and pressure

2 : ammonia water