nitro- combining form.
['nʌɪtrǝʊ] Before a vowel also nitr-. Also as attrib. adjective nitro.
[from
NITRE or Greek
nitron: see
-O-.]
Chiefly
Chemistry. Of or pertaining to nitre, nitric acid, or nitrogen;
spec. in
Organic Chemistry, designating
(a) (compounds containing) the group
NO2; (b) compounds which are esters of nitric acid.
■ nitro-acid noun a compound of nitric acid with an organic acid M19.
■ nitrobac'terium noun, pl. -ia, a nitrifying bacterium; spec. one belonging to the family Nitrobacteraceae: L19.
■ nitro'cellulose noun a highly flammable material made by treating cellulose with concentrated nitric acid, used in explosives and celluloid L19.
■ Nitrochalk noun (proprietary name for) a blend of chalk and ammonium nitrate, used as fertilizer E20.
■ nitro compound noun a compound containing a nitro group M19.
■ nitro-cotton noun gun cotton, nitrocellulose L19.
■ nitro'furan noun any of a group of compounds having a nitro group attached to a furan ring, some of which have bacteriostatic properties M20.
■ nitrofurantoin [-fjʊ'rantǝʊɪn] noun (Pharmacology) a bicyclic compound, C8H6N4O5, which is an antibacterial agent used to treat infections of the urinary tract M20.
■ nitrofurazone [-'fjʊǝrǝzǝʊn] noun (Pharmacology) a cyclic compound, C6H6N4O4, which is an antibacterial agent used locally on burns, wounds, and skin infections, and in veterinary medicine M20.
■ nitro group noun the monovalent radical NO2 L19.
■ Nitrolime noun (US proprietary name for) a fertilizer containing calcium cyanamide E20.
■ nitro'methane noun an oily liquid, CH3NO2, which is used as a solvent and rocket fuel and in the production of nitro compounds L19.
■ nitro-powder noun gunpowder made using nitric acid L19.
■ nitro-proof adjective (of a firearm) warranted as suitable for use with nitro-powder E20.
■ nitro-prove verb trans. prove or test (a firearm to be used with nitro-powder) M20. [TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲