nitrogen cycle
noun
: a continuous series of natural processes by which nitrogen passes successively from air to soil to organisms and back to air or soil involving principally nitrogen fixation, nitrification, decay, and denitrification
Examples of nitrogen cycle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This has led to the development of artificial fertilizers and a global industry dedicated to manipulating the nitrogen cycle via an industrial approach to creating ammonia called the Haber-Bosch process.
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The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 14 Apr. 2022
Barbe notes that basic natural processes like the nitrogen cycle don’t occur in the game, nor do key relationships between organisms, like parasitism.
—James Dinneen, Discover Magazine, 14 Apr. 2021
The worry here is that a profound change in the nitrogen cycle could prove devastating for organisms that are crucial to the ocean food web.
—Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 22 Dec. 2010
Biology students may remember learning the water cycle, the carbon cycle or the nitrogen cycle.
—Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2021
Among that sediment was cyanobacteria, microorganisms capable of photosynthesis and an important player in the nitrogen cycle.
—Scottie Andrew, CNN, 4 Feb. 2020
Doolittle illustrates the idea using the nitrogen cycle.
—Quanta Magazine, 20 Nov. 2018
See More
The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 14 Apr. 2022
Barbe notes that basic natural processes like the nitrogen cycle don’t occur in the game, nor do key relationships between organisms, like parasitism.
—James Dinneen, Discover Magazine, 14 Apr. 2021
The worry here is that a profound change in the nitrogen cycle could prove devastating for organisms that are crucial to the ocean food web.
—Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 22 Dec. 2010
Biology students may remember learning the water cycle, the carbon cycle or the nitrogen cycle.
—Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2021
Among that sediment was cyanobacteria, microorganisms capable of photosynthesis and an important player in the nitrogen cycle.
—Scottie Andrew, CNN, 4 Feb. 2020
Doolittle illustrates the idea using the nitrogen cycle.
—Quanta Magazine, 20 Nov. 2018
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nitrogen cycle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1906, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near nitrogen cycle
Cite this Entry
“Nitrogen cycle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nitrogen%20cycle. Accessed 2 Oct. 2023.
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Kids Definition
nitrogen cycle
noun
: a continuous series of natural processes by which nitrogen passes from air to soil to living things and back to the air by means of nitrogen fixation, nitrification, decay, and denitrification
Medical Definition
nitrogen cycle
noun
: a continuous series of natural processes by which nitrogen passes through successive stations in air, soil, and organisms and which principally involves nitrogen fixation, nitrification, decay, and denitrification
More from Merriam-Webster on nitrogen cycle
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nitrogen cycle
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