nitrogenous

adjective

ni·​trog·​e·​nous nī-ˈträ-jə-nəs How to pronounce nitrogenous (audio)
: relating to, being, or containing nitrogen
nitrogenous fertilizer
Phospholipids are compounds of neutral fat, a phosphoric acid, and a nitrogenous base.Sue Rodwell Williams

Examples of nitrogenous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In summer, slow-release nitrogenous fertilizer can be applied once during the stem and leaf growth period to make leaves greener. Steve Bender, Southern Living, 28 Jan. 2024 The researchers took MOFs and modified them with nitrogenous compounds known as diamines. IEEE Spectrum, 18 Mar. 2015 Insects have evolved to deal with that problem by sealing their bodies in waxy coatings and converting their nitrogenous waste into a dry form rather than urine. Jeremy Hsu, Discover Magazine, 17 July 2015 By tonnage, two primary fertilizer categories, nitrogenous and potassic, accounted for more than 74% of the total. Ken Roberts, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2022 Mammals excrete their nitrogenous waste as urea in pee, but birds excrete it as uric acid in a sticky white paste. David Treuer, Harper's Magazine, 26 Oct. 2021 Their frequent urination produces 55 to 110 gallons of methane each day and contains nitrogenous components that pollute Earth’s streams and rivers, make the waters dangerous for people to swim in or drink from, and pose a risk to wildlife. Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2021 The large-scale application of nitrogenous fertilizers generated via nitrogen fixing is already detectable in sediments remote from civilization, the scientists noted. Charles Q. Choi, Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2018 The main chemical components of poo are fats, carbohydrates (fiber), nitrogenous material, minerals (mainly potassium, calcium and phosphorous) and microorganisms. Naomi Deering, Smithsonian, 12 July 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nitrogenous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nitrogenous was in 1796

Dictionary Entries Near nitrogenous

Cite this Entry

“Nitrogenous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nitrogenous. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.

Medical Definition

nitrogenous

adjective
ni·​trog·​e·​nous nī-ˈträj-ə-nəs How to pronounce nitrogenous (audio)
: of, relating to, or containing nitrogen in combined form (as in nitrates or proteins)
nitrogenous wastes in urine

More from Merriam-Webster on nitrogenous

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!