nitrous oxide

noun

: a colorless gas N₂O that when inhaled produces loss of sensibility to pain preceded by exhilaration and sometimes laughter, that is used especially as an anesthetic in dentistry and as a fuel, and that is an atmospheric pollutant and greenhouse gas produced by combustion

called also laughing gas

compare nitric oxide

Examples of nitrous oxide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bob Bryar, former drummer for My Chemical Romance, had tanks of nitrous oxide next to him when he was found dead, according to reports. —August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2025

Three large canisters of nitrous oxide were found next to the body of former My Chemical Romance drummer Bob Bryar in November, and he had been gnawed on by his dogs, a Tennessee coroner said. —Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2025

Greater nitrous oxide availability expands blood vessels, reducing blood pressure. —Elizabeth Barnes, Verywell Health, 14 Feb. 2025

For the even stronger greenhouse gas nitrous oxide, animal agriculture accounts for a whopping 79% of U.S. emissions, largely due to fertilizers applied to crops fed to cattle and to cow manure. —Marianne Krasny, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nitrous oxide

• acetamide
• acetonide
• acidified
• antimonide
• beatified
• benzaldehyde
• borohydride
• chalcogenide
• commodified
• decalcified
• declassified
• disaccharide

Kids Definition

nitrous oxide

noun

: a colorless gas that when inhaled causes loss of the ability to feel pain and sometimes produces laughter and is used especially in dentistry

called also laughing gas

Medical Definition

nitrous oxide

noun

: a colorless gas N₂O that when inhaled produces loss of sensibility to pain preceded by exhilaration and sometimes laughter and is used especially as an anesthetic in dentistry

called also laughing gas