noun
nitrogen
NEYE-truh-juhn
noun
1
The chemical element with symbol N, a colorless, odorless gas that makes up most of Earth's atmosphere.
"Nitrogen makes up about 78% of the air we breathe."
"Plants need nitrogen from the soil to grow properly."
How to Use Nitrogen
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe invisible gas that fills most of the air around us and is essential for plant growth.
Common pairings
liquid nitrogen
nitrogen gas
nitrogen cycle
nitrogen fixation
Word Forms
nitrogens plural
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_____ makes up about 78% of the air we breathe.
Etymology
Borrowed from French nitrogène, coined by chemist Jean-Antoine Chaptal in 1790 from "nitro-" plus "-gen" ("producing").