nitrous

[ nahy-truhs ]

adjectiveChemistry.
  1. pertaining to compounds obtained from niter, usually containing less oxygen than the corresponding nitric compounds.

  2. containing nitrogen, usually in the trivalent state.

Origin of nitrous

1
First recorded in 1595–1605, nitrous is from the Latin word nitrōsus full of natron. See nitroso-

Other words from nitrous

  • non·ni·trous, adjective

Words Nearby nitrous

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How to use nitrous in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for nitrous

nitrous

/ (ˈnaɪtrəs) /


adjective
  1. of, derived from, or containing nitrogen, esp in a low valency state

Origin of nitrous

1
C17: from Latin nitrōsus full of natron see nitre

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for nitrous

nitrous

[ trəs ]


  1. Containing nitrogen, especially nitrogen with a valence of 3. Compare nitric.

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