nitrogen

noun

ni·​tro·​gen ˈnī-trə-jən 

: a nonmetallic chemical element with atomic number 7 that under standard conditions is a colorless, odorless, inert gas, that constitutes 78 percent of the Earth's atmosphere, and that is used especially in the industrial synthesis of ammonia, as a component of inert atmospheres, and in liquid form as a refrigerant

—often used before another noun

the nitrogen cycle

nitrogen fertilizer

see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of nitrogen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Alabama in January carried out the nation's first execution using nitrogen gas, but lethal injection remains the state's primary execution method. —CBS News, 18 July 2024

The law was signed by Gov. Jeff Landry (R-LA) back in March, who also signed a bill that expanded death row execution methods to include electrocution and nitrogen gas. —Asher Notheis, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 4 July 2024

By attaching nitrogen or oxygen groups to his microscopic drills, Tour’s team had engineered them to instead rotate under a concentrated form of visible blue light. —Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 13 June 2024

The court sided with two couples who sued after their frozen embryos stored in liquid nitrogen were accidentally destroyed. —Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 13 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

French nitrogène, from nitre niter + -gène -gen

First Known Use

1791, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing nitrogen

• nitrogen balance
• nitrogen cycle
• nitrogen dioxide
• nitrogen fixation
• nitrogen-fixer
• nitrogen-fixing
• nitrogen mustard
• nitrogen narcosis
• nitrogen oxide
• nitrogen tetroxide

Kids Definition

nitrogen

noun

ni·​tro·​gen ˈnī-trə-jən 

: a colorless tasteless odorless element that occurs as a gas which makes up 78 percent of the atmosphere and that forms a part of all living tissues see element

nitrogenous

nī-ˈträj-ə-nəs 

adjective

Medical Definition

nitrogen

noun

ni·​tro·​gen ˈnī-trə-jən 

: a common nonmetallic element that in the free form is normally a colorless odorless tasteless insoluble inert diatomic gas comprising 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume and that in the combined form is a constituent of biologically important compounds (as proteins, nucleic acids, and alkaloids) and hence of all living cells as well as of industrially important substances (as cyanides, fertilizers, dyes, and antibiotics)

—symbol N see Chemical Elements Table