plural nitrates
1
: a salt or ester of nitric acid
2
: sodium nitrate or potassium nitrate used as a fertilizer
3
: any of several nitric-acid esters of cellulose : nitrocellulose
especially
: a product (such as celluloid film) made from cellulose nitrate
In the case of the Clark Gable Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), the nitrate original was destroyed before anyone noticed the transferred soundtrack was out of sync. —
Roy Hemming
Roy Hemming Examples of nitrate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
However, nitrates are also found in vegetables, water and naturally in our bodies and studies show these sources of nitrates can modestly lower blood pressure.
—Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 19 May 2024
The survey results provide a record of these residents' concerns as stubborn water quality issues like nitrate contamination continue to plague rural areas, and new ones like PFAS arise.
—Journal Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nitrate 
Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 19 May 2024
The survey results provide a record of these residents' concerns as stubborn water quality issues like nitrate contamination continue to plague rural areas, and new ones like PFAS arise.
—Journal Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nitrate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nitrate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Nitrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nitrate. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nitrate
noun
ni·trate
ˈnī-ˌtrāt 
-trət
1
: a chemical compound formed by the reaction of nitric acid with another substance
2
: nitrate of sodium or potassium used as a fertilizer
Medical Definition
nitrate
noun
ni·trate
ˈnī-ˌtrāt, -trət
: a salt or ester of nitric acid
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