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
Origin:
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