nitrify

(trə fī′)

transitive verb nitrified, nitrifying

  1. to combine with nitrogen or nitrogen compounds
  2. to impregnate (soil, etc.) with nitrates
  3. to cause the oxidation of (ammonium salts, atmospheric nitrogen, etc.) to nitrites and nitrates, as by the action of soil bacteria, etc.

Origin: Fr nitrifier: see niter & -fy

Related Forms:

See nitrify in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb ni·tri·fied, ni·tri·fy·ing, ni·tri·fies
  1. To oxidize (an ammonia compound) into nitric acid, nitrous acid, or any nitrate or nitrite, especially by the action of nitrobacteria.
  2. To treat or combine with nitrogen or compounds containing nitrogen.

Related Forms:

  • niˌtri·fi·caˈtion (-fĭ-kāˈshən) noun
  • niˈtri·fiˌer noun

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