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
In the younger group, the researchers found that nitrate had no significant impact on BP, and changes to tongue bacteria after the beet juice intervention didn't promote nitrate-metabolizing bacteria.
—New Atlas, 27 July 2025
These foods are often loaded with sodium, preservatives, and nitrates that raise the risk of heart disease and cancer.
—Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj, CNBC, 4 July 2025
In some areas, water can contain trace levels of lead, arsenic, or nitrates.
—Jon Stojan, USA Today, 3 July 2025
The suggested antidotes for bichloride of mercury included drinking an egg white; for nitrate of silver, sipping saltwater.
—Anika Burgess
july 17, Literary Hub, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for nitrate
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New Atlas, 27 July 2025
These foods are often loaded with sodium, preservatives, and nitrates that raise the risk of heart disease and cancer.
—Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj, CNBC, 4 July 2025
In some areas, water can contain trace levels of lead, arsenic, or nitrates.
—Jon Stojan, USA Today, 3 July 2025
The suggested antidotes for bichloride of mercury included drinking an egg white; for nitrate of silver, sipping saltwater.
—Anika Burgess
july 17, Literary Hub, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for nitrate
Cite this Entry
“Nitrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nitrate. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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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