nitrogen

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: ni=tro=gen

CIDE DICTIONARY

nitrogen, n. [L. nitrum natron + -gen: cf. F. nitrogène. See Niter.].

 A colorless nonmetallic element of atomic number 7, tasteless and odorless, comprising four fifths of the atmosphere by volume in the form of molecular nitrogen (N2). It is chemically very inert in the free state, and as such is incapable of supporting life (hence the name azote still used by French chemists); but it forms many important compounds, such as ammonia, nitric acid, the cyanides, etc, and is a constituent of all organized living tissues, animal or vegetable. Symbol N. Atomic weight 14.007. It was formerly regarded as a permanent noncondensible gas, but was liquefied in 1877 by Cailletet of Paris, and Pictet of Geneva, and boils at -195.8 1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

nitrogen, n. Chem. a colourless tasteless odourless gaseous element that forms four-fifths of the atmosphere and is an essential constituent of proteins and nucleic acids.

Idiom

nitrogen cycle the interconversion of nitrogen and its compounds, usu. in the form of nitrates, in nature. nitrogen fixation a chemical process in which atmospheric nitrogen is assimilated into organic compounds in living organisms and hence into the nitrogen cycle.

Usage

Symb.: N.

Derivative

nitrogenous adj.

Etymology

F nitrog{egrave}ne (as NITRO-, -GEN)

THESAURUS

nitrogen

acetylene, ammonia, argon, asphyxiating gas, butane, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, castor-bean meal, chlorine, coal gas, commercial fertilizer, compost, dressing, dung, enrichener, ethane, ether, ethylene, fertilizer, fluorine, formaldehyde, guano, helium, hydrogen, illuminating gas, krypton, lewisite, manure, marsh gas, methane, muck, mustard gas, natural gas, neon, night soil, nitrate, organic fertilizer, oxygen, ozone, phosphate, poison gas, propane, radon, sewer gas, superphosphate, xenon