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oxygen definition

oxy·gen (äk′si jən)

noun

a colorless, odorless, tasteless, gaseous chemical element that occurs free in the atmosphere, forming one fifth of its volume, and in combination in water, sandstone, limestone, etc.: it is very active, combines with nearly all other elements, is the most common element in the earth's crust, and is essential to life processes and to combustion: symbol, O; at. no., 8

Etymology: Fr oxygène, altered (1786) < earlier oxygine, lit., acid-producing: so named (1777) by Antoine Laurent Lavoisier < Gr oxys (see oxy-) + L gignere, to beget (see genus): from the belief that oxygen is present in all acids

Related Forms:

  • oxygenic ox′y·gen′·ic (-jen′ik) adjective or oxygenous oxyg′·enous (äk sij′ə nəs)

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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