nitrous

noun ni·trous \ ˈnī-trəs \

Definition of nitrous

informal

:nitrous oxide

He began huffing nitrous by the case, causing vivid hallucinations.
—David Peisner

Recent Examples of nitrous from the Web

During normal driving, the emission controls were turned down, improving performance but violating limits on health-damaging nitrous oxides.

— david mchugh, The Mercury News, "Scandal can’t keep Volkswagen from strong sales increase," 10 Jan. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nitrous.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of nitrous

1977

nitrous

adjective

Definition of nitrous

archaic

:of, relating to, or containing niter

Recent Examples of nitrous from the Web

That event raised concerns about nitrous oxide pollutants.

— nathan bomey, USA TODAY, "Why hybrid cars aren't dead (despite what you may have heard)," 5 July 2017
Automakers are under pressure to meet efficiency targets, particularly in Europe, where diesel vehicles are falling out of favor following Volkswagen's emission scandal, which raised concerns about nitrous oxide pollutants.

— Detroit Free Press, "Onslaught of hybrids and EVs are on their way despite low gas prices," 5 July 2017
Rebecca Burger Instagram The dispensers are highly pressurized and work by injecting nitrous oxide into the metal container.

— lisa gutierrez, kansascity.com, "Exploding whipped cream canister kills Instagram fitness star Rebecca Burger," 22 June 2017
Whipped cream dispensers use nitrous oxide canisters, which, when pierced by a pin, release the gas and pressurize the cream container.

— amber ferguson, sacbee.com, "Exploding whipped cream dispenser kills popular Instagram fitness model," 22 June 2017
Rebecca Burger Instagram The dispensers are highly pressurized and work by injecting nitrous oxide into the metal container.

— lisa gutierrez, kansascity, "Exploding whipped cream canister kills Instagram fitness star Rebecca Burger," 22 June 2017
The synthetic fertilizer and the manure used to grow these also releases nitrous oxide, a climate-warming pollutant 298 times more powerful than carbon dioxide.

— CNN, "These are the most climate-damaging foods," 15 May 2017
Stanford initiated the project when researchers from the California university discovered that paraffin fuel burns three times faster than conventional fuels, which are used in hybrid rockets alongside nitrous oxide.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "NASA Used a Material Found in Crayons for This Roaring Rocket," 28 Apr. 2017
However, emitted along with those iron oxide particles are acidic gases like sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide, Shi says.

— ben panko, Smithsonian, "Human Pollution May Be Fertilizing The Oceans. That’s Not a Good Thing," 2 Mar. 2017

Origin and Etymology of nitrous

New Latin nitrosus, from Latin, full of natron, from nitrum natron — more at niter

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1583

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

nitrous

adjective ni·trous \ ˈnī-trəs \

medical Definition of nitrous

:of, relating to, or containing nitrogen especially with a lower valence than in corresponding nitric compounds

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