— nitration , n.
n. /nuy"trayt, -trit/ ; v. /nuy"trayt/ , n. , v. , nitrated, nitrating .
n.
1. Chem. a salt or ester of nitric acid, or any compound containing the univalent group -ONO 2 or NO 3 .
2. fertilizer consisting of potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate.
3. cellulose nitrate, a substance used as a film base in the early days of filmmaking.
4. Informal. See nitrate film .
v.t.
5. to treat with nitric acid or a nitrate.
6. to convert into a nitrate.
[ 1785-95; NITR- + -ATE 2 ]