Definition of nitrogen
: a colorless tasteless odorless element that as a diatomic gas is relatively inert and constitutes 78 percent of the atmosphere and that is a constituent of organic compounds found in all living tissues — see element table
From the M-W Editors
Recent Examples of nitrogen from the Web
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Atop this substrate sandwich ran copper pipes that carried Gamgee’s special solution of glycerine, ether, nitrogen peroxide and water.
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Volkswagen has been forced to pay out billions of dollars in fines and compensation after admitting that diesel vehicles were equipped with software to evade U.S. limits of nitrogen oxides, a pollutant that can harm people’s health.
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That’s because a dairy cow typically excretes 25 liters of nitrogen-rich urine per day, according to industry body Dairy New Zealand.
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The three nutrients most likely to be deficient are nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium since they are used in the greatest amounts, and most fertilizers focus on providing those nutrients.
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The lawsuit filed by the Hagens Berman firm of Seattle alleges the trucks emit two to five times the legal limit for harmful nitrogen oxide.
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To keep your angelonias growing vigorously, apply high-nitrogen products in granular forms to beds and in liquid and timed-release forms to the soil in pots.
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Too much nitrogen will cause excessive new growth, which will shade out branches and cause poorer fruit set.
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As Markels knows, the future of CO2 control will most probably be modeled on the 1990 Clean Air Act, which regulates pollutants like hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide (the acid in acid rain).
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nitrogen'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of nitrogen
French nitrogène, from nitre niter + -gène -gen
NITROGEN Defined for English Language Learners
nitrogen
playDefinition of nitrogen for English Language Learners
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: a chemical that has no color or smell and that makes up a large part of the atmosphere
NITROGEN Defined for Kids
nitrogen
playDefinition of nitrogen for Students
: a colorless odorless gaseous chemical element that makes up 78 percent of the atmosphere and forms a part of all living tissues
Medical Dictionary
nitrogen
playMedical Definition of nitrogen
: 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 element table
Learn More about nitrogen
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Spanish Central: Translation of nitrogen Nglish: Translation of nitrogen for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of nitrogen for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nitrogen
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