adj

nitric

NYT-rihk

adj

Relating to or containing nitrogen.

"Nitric compounds play a key role in industrial chemistry."

noun

Short for nitric acid, a strong, corrosive acid used in manufacturing and explosives.

"Nitric acid is used to make fertilizers and explosives."

How to Use Nitric

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDescribes anything containing or related to nitrogen, especially nitric acid.

Easily confused with

nitrous →

Common pairings

nitric acid nitric oxide

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_____ compounds play a key role in industrial chemistry.

Formed from "nitro-" plus the adjective ending "-ic," paralleling the French nitrique.