nitrifiable

- 1 dictionary result

ni⋅tri⋅fy

[nahy-truh-fahy]

–verb (used with object), -fied, -fy⋅ing.

1.	to oxidize (ammonia, ammonium compounds, or atmospheric nitrogen) to nitrites, nitrates, or their respective acids, esp. by bacterial action.

2.	to impregnate with nitrogen or nitrogen compounds.

3.	to treat or combine with nitrogen or its compounds.

4.	(formerly) to convert into niter.

Origin:
1820–30; < F nitrifier. See nitr-, niter, -i-, -fy

Related forms:

ni⋅tri⋅fi⋅a⋅ble, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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