noun

nitrate

NEYE-trayt

noun

A chemical compound formed from nitric acid, commonly used in fertilizers and preservatives.

"Runoff from nitrate fertilizer can pollute nearby rivers."

"Some processed meats contain sodium nitrate as a preservative."

verb

To treat a substance with nitric acid or a nitrate compound.

"The cellulose was nitrated to produce an early type of photographic film."

How to Use Nitrate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA nitrogen-based compound found in fertilizers, food preservatives, and industrial chemistry.

Common pairings

nitrate fertilizer nitrate levels sodium nitrate nitrate pollution

nitrated past tense, nitrates plural, nitrates singular

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Can you complete this real example?

Runoff from _____ fertilizer can pollute nearby rivers.

Borrowed from French nitrate, built on "nitre" (an old name for saltpeter).

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