Nitrate Meaning
/ˈnaɪˌtɹeɪt/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAny salt or ester of nitric acid.
verbTo treat, or react, with nitric acid or a nitrate
Sentence Examples
Natural mineral water contains calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium as well as nitrate.
The stain on the lab coat is due to silver nitrate.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The soil lacked enough ____, so the farmer added a nitrogen-rich fertilizer.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Farmers often use fertilizers that contain ____ to help their crops grow better.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree French nitratebor. English nitrate Borrowed from French nitrate.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Nitrates are most commonly used in fertilizers, especially sodium and potassium nitrates. Numerous water wells have had to be abandoned because of the lack of a way to deal with the problem."
— 1992 March 10, “Removal of Nitrates”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
"The underground water which feeds Britain's springs and rivers and provides a third of its drinking water is becoming seriously polluted with nitrates, causing a threat to wildlife and landing consumers with a big purification bill."
— 2003 August 11, Paul Brown, “Nitrate pollution raises water bills”, in The Guardian:
"The pinkness of bacon – or cooked ham, or salami – is a sign that it has been treated with chemicals, more specifically with nitrates and nitrites."
— 2018 March 1, Bee Wilson, “Yes, bacon really is killing us”, in The Guardian:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The soil lacked enough ____, so the farmer added a nitrogen-rich fertilizer.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Farmers often use fertilizers that contain ____ to help their crops grow better.