nitr-

combining form or nitro-

Etymology: Latin & Greek; Latin nitrum natron, from Greek nitron — more at niter

1. : nitrate

nitrobacteria

nitrogen

2.

a. : containing nitrogen in combined form especially when derived from an acid (as nitric acid)

nitramide

nitrohydrochloric acid

b. usually nitro- : containing the univalent group −NO₂ composed of one nitrogen and two oxygen atoms united through nitrogen to (1) carbon or nitrogen; (2) oxygen; or (3) a central atom — in names respectively of (1) organic compounds

nitrobenzene

nitromethane

nitramines

(2) organic nitrates

nitroglycerin

nitrocellulose

(3) coordination complexes

nitro-pentammine-cobalt ion [Co(NO₂)(NH₃)₅]⁺⁺

— compare isonitro-, nitrito-, nitryl

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var. of nitro- before a vowel: nitramine.

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nitr-,

combining form. the form of nitro- (Cf. ↑nitro-) before vowels, as in nitryl.