Meanings
- historicalnot comparablePertaining to or composed of nitre; having the properties of nitre, bitter.First known use 16th c.
Whate'er the wintry Frost Nitrous prepar'd; the various-blossom'd Spring Put in white Promise forth; and Summer-Suns Concocted strong, rush boundless now to View […].
a. 1749 (date written), James Thomson, “Autumn”, in The Seasons, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, and sold by Thomas Cadell, […], published 1768, →OCLC - not comparablechemistryOf, relating to, or derived from nitrogen, especially in which the valence of the nitrogen is lower than that of a corresponding nitric species.First known use 17th c.
In fact, nitric oxide (not to be confused with nitrous oxide, or laughing gas) is one of our primary signalling molecules.
2019, Bill Bryson, The Body: A Guide for Occupants, Black Swan (2020), pages 156–1571 more example
On social media and beyond, many have taken to using the brand’s name in a more colloquial fashion, with “Galaxy Gas” being used as a catchall for nitrous oxide inhalants at large, regardless of whether they are actually Galaxy Gas products or not.
2024 September 23, Trace William Cowen, “What the Hell Is Galaxy Gas?”, in Complex - not comparablechemistryOf or relating to nitrous acid or its derivatives.
- not comparablebiologyHaving a sharp odor like ammonia or nitric acid.
- informaluncountableautomotiveNitrous oxide.
- informaluncountableautomotiveThe system in some racing vehicles which pumps nitrous oxide into the engine to improve performance.
To simulate nitrous, we will use a very simple approach: apply a large force to the back of the car when the nitrous is on.
2004, Simon Carless, Gaming Hacks, "O'Reilly Media, Inc.", →ISBN, page 3202 more examples
When a shot this big is being run, it will also be necessary to pull 6-10 degrees of timing out when the nitrous is being run.
2002, Mike Kojima, Honda/Acura Engine Performance: How to Modify D, B and H Series Honda/Acura Engines for Street and Drag Racing Performance, Penguin, →ISBN, page 111When tested on a typical summer day, an engine with fuel fed by an annular discharge booster could be 10 hp less over a stepped dogleg booster, but 10 hp more when the nitrous is in operation.
2013, David Vizard, David Vizard's How to Super Tune and Modify Holley Carburetors, CarTech Inc, →ISBN, page 74
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latinnitrōsus“nitrose”
- Middle Frenchnitreux
- Englishnitrous
From Middle French nitreux, and its source, Latin nitrōsus (“nitrose”). Doublet of nitroso. By surface analysis, nitro- + -ous.
More words from Middle French, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian азотист
- азотист (azotist)of, or relating to nitrous acid
Catalan nitrós
- nitrósof or relating to nitrogen
French nitreux, azoteux
- nitreuxof or relating to nitrogen
- azoteuxof or relating to nitrogen
Hungarian nitrogénes, salétromos
- nitrogénesof or relating to nitrogen
- salétromosof or relating to nitrogen
Irish nítriúil
- nítriúilof or relating to nitrogen
Italian nitroso
- nitrosoof or relating to nitrogen
Polish azotawy, azotawy
- azotawyof or relating to nitrogen
- azotawyof, or relating to nitrous acid
Spanish nitroso
- nitrosoof or relating to nitrogen
Thai ไนตรัส
- ไนตรัส (nai-dtrâs)of or relating to nitrogen
Welsh nitrus
- nitrusof, or relating to nitrous acid
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
nitrous. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nitrous
“nitrous.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nitrous. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nitrous,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nitrous.
Source: nitrous on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.