dioxide

noun

di·​ox·​ide (ˌ)dī-ˈäk-ˌsīd 

: an oxide (such as carbon dioxide) containing two atoms of oxygen in the molecule

Examples of dioxide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sulfur dioxide pollution has fallen by more than 90 percent in the U.S., thanks to EPA rules—one of the great environmental protection achievements in the history of the U.S. —David Hawkins, Scientific American, 29 Sep. 2023

Nitrogen dioxide is released into the atmosphere when cars, trucks, buses, power plants and off-road equipment burn fuel. —Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023

Sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide levels can remain locally hazardous even though Kīlauea is not erupting, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. —Jillian Sykes, CNN, 6 Oct. 2023

Nitrogen dioxide also forms from vehicles and power plant emissions, which have contributed to the high levels of air pollution in Iran. —Sune Engel Rasmussen, WSJ, 2 Mar. 2023

Sulfur dioxide specifically will contribute to volcanic smog, known as vog, which creates a visible haze. —Li Cohen, CBS News, 7 June 2023

Sulfur dioxide pouring from the Mauna Loa eruption was detected in the atmosphere on Nov. 28, 2022 by the Sentinel-5P satellite. —Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 30 Nov. 2022

Scientists have discovered a shocking fact about a material called Vanadium dioxide (VO2). —Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 28 Aug. 2022

Nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen oxide, two other pollutants, may also be linked to dementia risk, although the connection was based on fewer studies and may not be as firm, according to the researchers. —Ilena Peng, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2023

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

circa 1847, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing dioxide

• carbon dioxide
• chlorine dioxide
• lead dioxide
• manganese dioxide
• nitrogen dioxide
• silicon dioxide
• sulfur dioxide
• titanium dioxide

Kids Definition

dioxide

noun

di·​ox·​ide (ˈ)dī-ˈäk-ˌsīd 

: an oxide containing two atoms of oxygen in the molecule

Medical Definition

dioxide

noun

di·​ox·​ide (ˈ)dī-ˈäk-ˌsīd 

: an oxide (as carbon dioxide) containing two atoms of oxygen in a molecule