nitrous oxide
noun
: a colorless gas N2O that when inhaled produces loss of sensibility to pain preceded by exhilaration and sometimes laughter, that is used especially as an anesthetic in dentistry and as a fuel, and that is an atmospheric pollutant and greenhouse gas produced by combustion
called also laughing gas
compare nitric oxideExamples of nitrous oxide in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Connelly allegedly supplied the rapper with nitrous oxide and encouraged unsupervised self-administration while ignoring clear adverse neurological and behavioral signs apparent in the patient, the letter states.
—
Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 1 May 2025
The science of nitrous oxide: short high, long-term risks
Nitrous oxide works by inhibiting NMDA receptors in the brain, which play a key role in how our brain processes signals related to pain and memory.
—Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Apr. 2025
Does not compute: House Republicans dropped legislation that would block the Biden administration from factoring in the social cost of carbon, methane, nitrous oxide, or any other greenhouse gas metric in the rulemaking process.
—Daniel Moore, Axios, 15 Oct. 2024
While nitrous oxide has legitimate medical uses, recreational use carries significant risks:
Oxygen deprivation: Inhaling nitrous oxide displaces oxygen in the lungs, leading to hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 25 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for nitrous oxide
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Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 1 May 2025
The science of nitrous oxide: short high, long-term risks
Nitrous oxide works by inhibiting NMDA receptors in the brain, which play a key role in how our brain processes signals related to pain and memory.
—Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Apr. 2025
Does not compute: House Republicans dropped legislation that would block the Biden administration from factoring in the social cost of carbon, methane, nitrous oxide, or any other greenhouse gas metric in the rulemaking process.
—Daniel Moore, Axios, 15 Oct. 2024
While nitrous oxide has legitimate medical uses, recreational use carries significant risks:
Oxygen deprivation: Inhaling nitrous oxide displaces oxygen in the lungs, leading to hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 25 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for nitrous oxide
Cite this Entry
“Nitrous oxide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nitrous%20oxide. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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