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
On the day the hotel in Beirut was due to launch in August 2020, an ammonium-nitrate explosion tore through the city, bringing much of the area to rubble and tragically killing more than 200 people.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Jan. 2026
As another plus, atmospheric water is free of the contaminants often present in ground sources, such as heavy metals and nitrates.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Carrot juice is much higher in vitamin A, beta carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin K, while beet juice provides more folate and natural nitrates linked to blood flow and blood pressure support.
—Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 26 Jan. 2026
Clean rainwater is free of salts and chemicals and naturally contains nitrates that can help your houseplants thrive.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nitrate
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Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Jan. 2026
As another plus, atmospheric water is free of the contaminants often present in ground sources, such as heavy metals and nitrates.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Carrot juice is much higher in vitamin A, beta carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin K, while beet juice provides more folate and natural nitrates linked to blood flow and blood pressure support.
—Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 26 Jan. 2026
Clean rainwater is free of salts and chemicals and naturally contains nitrates that can help your houseplants thrive.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 9 Jan. 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 28 Jan. 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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