nitrous oxide

noun

, Chemistry, Pharmacology.

1. a colorless, sweet-smelling, sweet-tasting, nonflammable, slightly water-soluble gas, N 2 O, that sometimes produces a feeling of exhilaration when inhaled: used chiefly as an anesthetic in dentistry and surgery, in the manufacture of chemicals, and as an aerosol.

nitrous oxide

noun

1. a colourless nonflammable slightly soluble gas with a sweet smell: used as an anaesthetic in dentistry and surgery. Formula: N 2 O Systematic namedinitrogen oxide Also calledlaughing gas

nitrous oxide

1. A colorless, sweet-smelling gas. It is used as a mild anesthetic, often called laughing gas. Nitrous oxide occurs naturally in the atmosphere and is a greenhouse gas. Chemical formula: N 2 O.

Word History and Origins

Origin of nitrous oxide¹

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

The WMO reports historically high levels of the greenhouse gasses methane and nitrous oxide, which like carbon dioxide are common byproducts of human industry.

From Salon

In a statement read to the court, a bomb disposal officer said the device contained nitrous oxide cylinders.

From BBC

“If we take large-scale efforts to reduce methane emissions — and I should say nitrous oxide as well, and other shorter-lived greenhouse gases — we could buy ourselves decades of time to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.”

From Los Angeles Times

Possession of nitrous oxide - also known as laughing gas or NOS - for recreational use has been a criminal offence in the United Kingdom since 2023 and can result in a two-year prison sentence.

From BBC

As humans continue to burn fossil fuels, we release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, nitrous oxide that trap heat that would otherwise radiate back out of the planet's atmosphere.

From Salon