nitric oxide

noun

: a colorless poisonous gas NO formed by oxidation of nitrogen or ammonia that is present in the atmosphere and also in mammals where it is synthesized from arginine and oxygen and acts as a vasodilator and as a mediator of cell-to-cell communication (as between nerve cells) compare nitrous oxide

Examples of nitric oxide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Your Athletic Performance May Improve Dark chocolate contains compounds that raise nitric oxide in the blood. —Ann Pietrangelo, Verywell Health, 10 Mar. 2026

Beets contain nitrates, which are compounds that are converted to nitric oxide in the body and improve blood flow by dilating blood vessels. —Lauren Manaker, SELF, 4 Mar. 2026

And it has been shown to increase nitric oxide, which expands your blood vessels, enabling you to utilize more oxygen. —Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 11 Feb. 2026

This beet root powder supplement supports nitric oxide production for cardiovascular health. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 2 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nitric oxide

• acetamide
• acetonide
• acidified
• antimonide
• beatified
• benzaldehyde
• borohydride
• chalcogenide
• commodified
• decalcified
• declassified
• disaccharide

Medical Definition

nitric oxide

noun

: a poisonous colorless gas NO that occurs as a common air pollutant formed by the oxidation of atmospheric nitrogen and that is also formed by the oxidation of arginine in the mammalian body where it acts as a mediator of intracellular and intercellular communication regulating numerous biological processes (as vasodilation and neurotransmission)