nitrogenase

N1I1T1R1O1G2E1N1A1S1E1

noun

Any enzyme, especially in nitrogen-fixing bacteria, that catalyzes the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia.

OriginEnglish diastase ← Ancient Greek δῐᾰ́στᾰσῐς (dĭắstăsĭs) →
UncommonScrabble 12
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Meanings

nounnitrogenase (plural nitrogenases)

plural nitrogenases

  1. biochemistryAny enzyme, especially in nitrogen-fixing bacteria, that catalyzes the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia.

Origin

  1. Englishnitrogen
  2. Ancient Greekδῐῐ̈́στημῐ (dĭĭ̈́stēmĭ)
  3. Ancient Greekδῐᾰ́στᾰσῐς (dĭắstăsĭs)
  4. Englishdiastase
  5. Englishnitrogenase

From nitrogen + -ase.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

nitrogenase. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nitrogenase

MLA

“nitrogenase.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nitrogenase. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nitrogenase,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nitrogenase.

Source: nitrogenase on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.