nitroglycerin

noun

ni·​tro·​glyc·​er·​in ˌnī-trə-ˈgli-s(ə-)rən 

variants or nitroglycerine

: an oily explosive poisonous liquid C₃H₅N₃O₉ used chiefly in making dynamite and in medicine as a vasodilator

Examples of nitroglycerin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Plans call for producing key explosive materials such as nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin. —Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025

The premise alone is perfectly thrilling: Four men take a job driving explosive nitroglycerin over a mountain pass. —Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025

An attempt to use nitroglycerin on a bank safe succeeded only in blasting it across the floor of the building. —Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2025

Mayor Giuliani takes medication for his heart condition and carries nitroglycerin with him at all times. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nitroglycerin

• nitroglycerine
• glycerin
• glycerine

Kids Definition

nitroglycerin

noun

ni·​tro·​glyc·​er·​in

variants or nitroglycerine

ˌnī-trə-ˈglis- (ə-)rən 

: an oily explosive poisonous liquid used chiefly in making dynamite and in medicine to relax blood vessels

Medical Definition

nitroglycerin

noun

ni·​tro·​glyc·​er·​in

variants or nitroglycerine

ˌnī-trə-ˈglis-(ə-)rən 

: a heavy oily explosive poisonous liquid C₃H₅N₃O₉ used chiefly in making dynamites and in medicine as a vasodilator (as in angina pectoris)

called also trinitrin, trinitroglycerin

see nitro-dur, nitrostat