ni ‧ trate /ˈnaɪtreɪt, -trət/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
[ Date: 1700-1800 ; Language: French ; Origin: nitrique ; ⇨ ↑ nitric acid ]
used in the name of substances containing ↑ nitrogen and ↑ oxygen . Nitrates are often used to improve soil:
potassium nitrate
high levels of nitrates in drinking water