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
Together, the two stages form an important step (called nitrification) in the nitrogen cycle that operates on Earth.
—
Jacek Krywko, Ars Technica, 13 Sep. 2023
The water cycle, nitrogen cycle, the oxygen cycle, the carbon cycle—dust is feeding into all of these.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 27 Nov. 2023
This nitrogen cycle, properly balanced, is fundamental to life.
—IEEE Spectrum, 25 Sep. 2019
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.
—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
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Jacek Krywko, Ars Technica, 13 Sep. 2023
The water cycle, nitrogen cycle, the oxygen cycle, the carbon cycle—dust is feeding into all of these.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 27 Nov. 2023
This nitrogen cycle, properly balanced, is fundamental to life.
—IEEE Spectrum, 25 Sep. 2019
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.
—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
Cite this Entry
“Nitrogen cycle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nitrogen%20cycle. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
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