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 Kale Kale and other leafy greens also contain nitrates that are good for your heart. Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 13 Sep. 2023 Nitrifying microbes in the soil can then convert the ammonium into nitrate. Jennifer Debruyn, The Conversation, 28 Sep. 2023 In Kern County — one of the most productive farming counties in the nation — the use of fertilizers and crop fumigants has resulted in numerous sources of contamination for nitrate and 1,2,3-TCP. Dorany Pineda, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2023 In Midwestern farming regions, for example, primary contaminants include bacteria and nitrates, which can be present in agricultural runoff. Tony Leys, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2023 The nitrates in beets can help boost oxygen circulation to the brain and muscles. Andrea Michelson, Verywell Health, 21 Sep. 2023 Michael Claiborne, directing attorney for Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, said if floodwaters wash away manure lagoons, there is concern that nitrates could seep into groundwater. Brennon Dixson, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2023 Generic Viagra should not be taken with certain medications, such as nitrates or alpha-blockers. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2023 For the Huttons, water quality tests show their private well actually contained nitrate levels five times the government’s safe level for drinking. Rachel Ramirez, CNN, 2 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nitrate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near nitrate

Cite this Entry

“Nitrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nitrate. Accessed 6 Dec. 2023.

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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