nitrifier

[ nahy-truh-fahy-er ]

nounChemistry, Biology.
  1. any of the bacteria or other microbes, as those found in soil, that convert ammonia or ammonium compounds to nitrites and then to nitrates.: Compare denitrifier. See also nitrification.

Origin of nitrifier

1
First recorded in 1900–05; nitrify + -er1

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024