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
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Once captured, the pollutants are converted through a natural chemical reaction into stable byproducts—CO2 into carbonates such as calcium carbonate (CaCOz) and NOx into small quantities of harmless nitrates. Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 14 Oct. 2025 Limit meats that are cured, contain nitrates, are high in sodium and saturated fats, or have additives. Merve Ceylan, Health, 14 Oct. 2025 Deli meats are often preserved with nitrates and nitrites, which can convert into carcinogenic compounds inside the body. Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025 Manure from CAFOs can contaminate groundwater with nitrates, which have been linked to several health problems. Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 9 Oct. 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 22 Oct. 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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