noun, verb, -trat⋅ed, -trat⋅ing.| 1. | Chemistry. a salt or ester of nitric acid, or any compound containing the univalent group –ONO2 or NO3. |
| 2. | fertilizer consisting of potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate. |
| 3. | cellulose nitrate, a substance used as a film base in the early days of filmmaking. |
| 4. | Informal. nitrate film. |
| 5. | to treat with nitric acid or a nitrate. |
| 6. | to convert into a nitrate. |
nitrate ni·trate (nī'trāt', -trĭt)
n.
The univalent radical NO3.
A compound containing such a radical, such as a salt or ester of nitric acid.
| nitrate (nī'trāt') Pronunciation Key
A salt or ester of nitric acid, containing the group NO3. Nitrates dissolve extremely easily in water and are an important component of the nitrogen cycle. Compare nitrite. |