Word Study
nitric bacteria |
nitric bacterium |
nitric oxide |
nitride |
nitriferous |
nitrification
| nitrifier
| nitrify
| nitril
| nitrile
| nitrite
nitrification
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun nitrification has 2 senses
- nitrification(n = noun.process) - the chemical process in which a nitro group is added to an organic compound (or substituted for another group in an organic compound); is a kind of chemical action, chemical change, chemical process
- nitrification(n = noun.process) - the oxidation of ammonium compounds in dead organic material into nitrates and nitrites by soil bacteria (making nitrogen available to plants); is a kind of oxidation, oxidisation, oxidization
Derived form verb nitrify2
Derived forms verb nitrify3, verb nitrify1
CIDE DICTIONARY
nitrification, n. [Cf. F. nitrification. see Nitrify.].
- The act, process, or result of combining with nitrogen or some of its compounds. [1913 Webster]
- A process of oxidation, in which nitrogenous vegetable and animal matter in the presence of air, moisture, and some basic substances, as lime or alkali carbonate, is converted into nitrates. [1913 Webster]" The process is going on at all times in porous soils and in water contaminated with nitrogenous matter, and is supposed to be due to the presence of a bacteria, such as members of the genus
Azotobacter , formerly callednitrification ferments . In former times the process was extensively made use of in the production of saltpeter." [1913 Webster]
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