a pungent colourless gas that is a chemical compound of nitrogen and hydrogen, is very soluble in water, forming an alkaline solution, and is used in the manufacture of fertilizers, synthetic fibres, and explosives: formula NH3
a solution of ammonia in water used esp as a cleaning fluid
ammoniacal adj
[modern Latin, from Latin sal ammoniacus sal ammoniac, literally ‘salt of Ammon’ from Greek ammōniakos of (Zeus) Ammon, an Egyptian god near whose temple it was prepared]