nitrate

[nahy-treyt, -trit, nahy-treyt]

noun

1. Chemistry.,  a salt or ester of nitric acid, or any compound containing the univalent group –ONO 2 or NO 3 .

2. fertilizer consisting of potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate.

3. nitrocellulose.

4. Informal.,  nitrate film.

verb (used with object)

nitrated, nitrating 

1. to treat with nitric acid or a nitrate.

2. to convert into a nitrate.

nitrate

/ ˈnaɪtreɪt /

noun

1. any salt or ester of nitric acid, such as sodium nitrate, NaNO 3

2. a fertilizer consisting of or containing nitrate salts

verb

1. (tr) to treat with nitric acid or a nitrate

2. to convert or be converted into a nitrate

3. to undergo or cause to undergo the chemical process in which a nitro group is introduced into a molecule

nitrate

1. A salt or ester of nitric acid, containing the group NO ₃. Nitrates dissolve extremely easily in water and are an important component of the nitrogen cycle.

2. Compare nitrite

Other Word Forms

• nitration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of nitrate¹

First recorded in 1785–95; nitr- + -ate ²

Example Sentences

Somehow, he managed to get his hands on the ingredients for gunpowder - potassium nitrate, sulphur and charcoal.

From BBC

The cancelled tests are for so-called inorganic pollutants - substances such as nitrates and phosphates that can indicate sewage or agricultural pollution.

From BBC

Three days before Park arrived at his house, according to a federal criminal complaint, Bartkus researched how to make powerful explosions using ammonium nitrate and fuel.

From Los Angeles Times

That list includes ammonium nitrate, commonly available as a popular fertilizer at farm and garden stores.

From Los Angeles Times

Toxic algae events have been worsened with the warming of ocean temperatures caused by climate change and the acidification of the ocean due to nitrate runoff, according to experts.

From Los Angeles Times