oxygen

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noun, often attributive ox·y·gen \ ˈäk-si-jən \

Definition of oxygen

1 :a reactive element that is found in water, in most rocks and minerals, in numerous organic compounds, and as a colorless tasteless odorless diatomic gas constituting 21 percent of the atmosphere, that is capable of combining with all elements except the inert gases, that is active in physiological processes, and that is involved especially in combustion — see Chemical Elements Table

2 :something that sustains or fuels

disagreement is the true oxygen of these magazines
—Joseph Epstein

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oxygenless

play \ˈäk-si-jən-ləs\ adjective

See oxygen defined for English-language learners

See oxygen defined for kids

Recent Examples of oxygen from the Web

Fishing in late summer and early fall can be challenging in the South, no doubt about it--hot water and low oxygen levels mean inactive bass.

— frank sargeant, AL.com, "Find the bait, find the bass," 30 Aug. 2017
That’s in part a reference to the refugee crisis that was oxygen to the AfD, originally founded four years ago to oppose euro-area bailouts.

— rainer buergin, Bloomberg.com, "Germany's Populist AfD Party Recognizes It Has an Image Problem," 29 Aug. 2017
Anaerobic digestion is a process of breaking down organic material without oxygen.

— nicole miller-coleman, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Perris facility to meet state’s environmental goals," 29 July 2017
Other research has also shown water may be created on the moon’s surface when hydrogen atoms from solar wind react with oxygen atoms buried in moon rocks.

— marina koren, The Atlantic, "Uncovering the Moon’s Hidden Water," 25 July 2017
The FDA warns that the safety and effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy has not been proven for many conditions.

— perri ormont blumberg, Southern Living, "Scientists Have Miraculously Reversed Brain Damage in Two-Year-Old Girl," 21 July 2017
The salinity, the conditions, the oxygen would just not have been suitable.

— matt campbell, kansascity, "Plant fossil found at Park University is 306 million years old and a new species," 19 July 2017
Cincinnati Fire Department gave Naegele oxygen, roused her and took her to The Christ Hospital, police said.

— mariel padilla, Cincinnati.com, "Strangers administered Narcan to woman overdosing in Findlay market, police say," 17 July 2017
Being submerged can deprive plants of oxygen and make their roots rot or encourage fungal diseases.

— beth botts, chicagotribune.com, "6 tips to remedy a flooded yard or garden," 13 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of oxygen

French oxygène, from Greek oxys, adjective, acidic, literally, sharp + French -gène -gen; akin to Latin acer sharp — more at edge

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1788

See Words from the same year

Other Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous

OXYGEN Defined for English Language Learners

oxygen

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noun

Definition of oxygen for English Language Learners

: a chemical that is found in the air, that has no color, taste, or smell, and that is necessary for life

OXYGEN Defined for Kids

oxygen

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noun ox·y·gen \ ˈäk-si-jən \

Definition of oxygen for Students

:a chemical element found in the air as a colorless odorless tasteless gas that is necessary for life

History for oxygen

People once thought that all acids were formed by adding oxygen to some other substance. This belief turned out not to be true. However, it did give oxygen its name. The first part of the word, oxy-, came from Greek oxys, meaning “acid” or “sharp.” The second part, -gen, came from a Greek element meaning “producing” or “giving rise to.”

Medical Dictionary

oxygen

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noun ox·y·gen \ ˈäk-si-jən \

medical Definition of oxygen

:a colorless tasteless odorless gaseous element that constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere and is found in water, in most rocks and minerals, and in numerous organic compounds, that is capable of combining with all elements except the inert gases, that is active in physiological processes, and that is involved especially in combustion processes —symbol O — see Chemical Elements Table

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