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

Other greenhouse gases like methane and nitrous oxide are 262 percent and 123 percent above pre-industrial levels, respectively.

From The Daily Beast

The liquid can also release nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas.

From Science News For Students

Fertilizer can counter soil degradation, but it pollutes waterways and produces nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas.

From Washington Post

Artificial fertilizers are energy-intensive to make and create nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that’s 300 times more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide.

From Popular-Science

The amount of nitrous oxide released into the atmosphere is a function of practices such as fertilization.

From Washington Post

Campbell is quoted saying “Nitrous oxide can explode on its own.”

From The Daily Beast

Nitrous oxide, otherwise known as laughing gas, gives one an exhilarating feeling while operating as an anesthetic.

From The Daily Beast

Tragic indeed are those whip-it rumors about Demi Moore, for the allure of nitrous oxide is hardly a mystery to me.

From The Daily Beast

To him is to be credited the first operation ever performed without pain by the use of nitrous-oxide gas.

From Project Gutenberg

His eyes were fixed upon one of the Bunsen burners beneath which stood a retort labelled plainly enough, "Nitrous Oxide."

From Project Gutenberg

Provided an artificial-limb factory and special plants for the manufacture of splints and nitrous oxide gas.

From Project Gutenberg

The moment after I began to respire twenty quarts of unmingled nitrous oxide.

From Project Gutenberg

It was then and not until then that the nitrous-oxide plant began running at anything like its real capacity.

From Project Gutenberg