Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus
1

nitrous

noun ni·trous \ ˈnī-trəs \
|Updated on: 7 Jul 2018

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

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

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler
2

nitrous

adjective

Definition of nitrous

archaic
: of, relating to, or containing niter

Origin and Etymology of nitrous

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

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

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up nitrous? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

festinate

play

to hasten

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. exculpatory 'tending or serving to exculpate'

  2. ideologue 'an often blindly partisan advocate or adherent of a particular ideology'

  3. socialism 'a way of organizing a society in which major industries are owned and controlled by the government'

  4. uphold 'to let stand'

  5. due process 'a course of formal proceedings (as judicial proceedings)'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

nitrous

Test Your Vocabulary

Test Your Emoji Exceptionalism

  • test-your-emoji-exceptionalism-written-with-a-lot-of-emoji
  • What is this emoji intended to represent: 🤳
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games