Nitrogen is a colourless element that has no smell and is usually found as a gas. It forms about 78% of the earth's atmosphere, and is found in all living things.
nitrogen in British English
(ˈnaɪtrədʒən)
noun
a.
a colourless odourless relatively unreactive gaseous element that forms 78 per cent (by volume) of the air, occurs in many compounds, and is an essential constituent of proteins and nucleic acids: used in the manufacture of ammonia and other chemicals and as a refrigerant. Symbol: N; atomic no: 7; atomic wt: 14.00674; valency: 3 or 5; density: 1⁄2506 kg/m3; melting pt: –210.00°C; boiling pt: –195.8°C
b.
(as modifier)
nitrogen cycle
nitrogen in American English
(ˈnaɪtrədʒən)
noun
a colorless, tasteless, odorless, gaseous chemical element forming nearly four fifths of the atmosphere: it is a component of all proteins and nucleic acids: symbol, N; at. no., 7
Word origin
Fr nitrogène: so named (1790) by J. A. Chaptal (1756-1832), Fr chemist < Gr nitron (see niter) + Fr -gène, -gen, because niter resulted when it was sparked with oxygen in the presence of causticpotash
Examples of 'nitrogen' in a sentence
nitrogen
In a smaller room, 10 liquid nitrogen tanks stand in a row.
The Sun (2016)
They also take nitrogen from the atmosphere and convert it for use for future plants.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It says nitrogen fertilisers and pesticides derived from oil are bound to become more expensive.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
What happens when you dip flowers into liquid nitrogen?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
This massive distortion of the nitrogen cycle has its costs.
Oliver Morton Eating the Sun: How Plants Power the Planet (2007)
In effect it is accessing more of the nitrogen fertiliser than it would be able to normally.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We also looked at what happens to a banana if it is dipped in liquid nitrogen.
The Sun (2012)
There is a man charged with topping up the liquid nitrogen.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The premises involved have suspended drinks involving liquid nitrogen.
The Sun (2012)
They are studying how plants such as peas grab the nutrient nitrogen from the air to boost their yields.
The Sun (2012)
There is a very important group of organisms which live in the soil and can fix nitrogen from the air.
Radford, Tim & Leggett, Jeremy The Crisis of Life on Earth - our legacy from the second millenium (1990)
Step up the nitrogen in the fertiliser and the yield goes up at the expense of flavour and storage life.
The Sun (2011)
Some collect nitrogen from the air.
Thompkins, Peter, Bird, Christopher Secrets of the Soil (1990)
Consider the case of nitrogen fertiliser.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Five air pollution detectors monitor nitrogen dioxide in the area around Heathrow.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
See carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle.
McCahill, T. A. Biology Basic Facts (1982)
Because when you actually stop and think, it's made of nitrogen and oxygen.
The Sun (2014)
The research team found that 3 to 5 per cent of the nitrogen in fertiliser was converted and emitted.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
You want to know how the air, which is basically oxygen and nitrogen, moves around the planet.
Fisher, David E. Fire and Ice - the Greenhouse Effect, Ozone Depletion, and Nuclear Winter (1990)
An acceptable technology is to modify plants so that they can capture nitrogen from the atmosphere, as is done naturally by clover and broad beans for example.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The pair were breathing a mixture of helium, oxygen and nitrogen, specially made up in each tank for different depths.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Word lists with
nitrogen
chemical, Types of gas
In other languages
nitrogen
British English: nitrogen /ˈnaɪtrədʒən/ NOUN
Nitrogen is a colourless element that has no smell and is usually found as a gas.