nitrifyingn.
/ˈnʌɪtrᵻfʌɪɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈnaɪtrəˌfaɪɪŋ/ Chemistry and Biology.
Originally: the production of nitre. Now (usually): the process of nitrification. Chiefly attributive.Sometimes not easily distinguished from nitrifying adj.
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the world > matter > chemistry > chemical substances > salts > [noun] > salts named by atomic number > nitrates or nitrites > process of forming
nitrification1797
nitrifying1839
nitrifaction1860
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 888 Upon each of the four sides the nitrifying sheds are to be erected.
1890 Proc. Royal Soc. 1889–90 47 296 (title) The nitrifying process and its specific ferment.
1904 Science 13 May 769/2 Professor Chester has..made bacteriological analyses of the soil for the purpose of determining the nitrifying efficiency of its bacteria.
1995 Jrnl. Biogeogr. 22 359/1 Nitrifying activity with low pH optimum has been found in drained Finnish peat soils.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
nitrifyingadj.
/ˈnʌɪtrᵻfʌɪɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈnaɪtrəˌfaɪɪŋ/ Chemistry and Biology.
That performs or undergoes nitrification.Sometimes not easily distinguished from nitrifying n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > chemistry > chemical reactions or processes > [adjective] > of or relating to named chemical reactions or processes > of or relating to nitrification
nitrified1797
nitrifying1827
the world > matter > chemistry > chemical substances > salts > [adjective] > named salts > nitrates > becoming or converted into
nitrified1797
nitrifying1827
1827 Philos. Mag. 2nd Ser. 1 175 Why..does it exhibit no nitrifying power without the cooperation of carbonate of lime?
1882 Nature 1 June 102/1 The..use of this nitrifying organism is thus apparent.
1900 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. 78 ii. 97 Experiments with amides, proteids, wine, &c., showed that the nitrifying organisms are not able to attack organic nitrogen; the nitrogen must first be converted into ammonia.
1932 G. D. Fuller & H. S. Conard tr. J. Braun-Blanquet Plant Sociol. viii. 236 The nitrogen compounds in the soil must generally be converted into nitric acid... But this transformation can only take place with the cooperation of nitrifying bacteria.
1976 E. Scarrow N.Z. Veg. Gardening Guide 26 All pea and bean crops..have nitrifying nodules on their roots.
1997 New Phytologist 135 534/2 Plants are supposed to be better competitors for the mineral nitrogen than the nitrifying micro-organisms.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1839adj.1827