nitrous
English
editEtymology
editFrom Middle French nitreux, and its source, Latin nitrōsus (“nitrose”).
Pronunciation
edit- IPA(key): /ˈnaɪtɹəs/
Audio (Southern England): (file)
Adjective
editnitrous
- (now historical) Pertaining to or composed of nitre; having the properties of nitre, bitter. [from 16th c.]
- a. 1749 (date written), James Thomson, “Autumn”, in The Seasons, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, and sold by Thomas Cadell, […], published 1768, →OCLC:
- 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 […] .
- (chemistry) Of, relating to, or derived from nitrogen, especially in which the valence of the nitrogen is lower than that of a corresponding nitric species. [from 17th c.]
- (chemistry) Of or relating to nitrous acid or its derivatives.
- (mycology, biology) Having a sharp odor like ammonia or nitric acid.
Derived terms
editTranslations
editof or relating to nitrogen
Noun
editnitrous (uncountable)
- (dentistry, automotive, informal) Nitrous oxide.
- (automotive, informal) The system in some racing vehicles which pumps nitrous oxide into the engine to improve performance.
- 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 111:
- 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.
- 2004, Simon Carless, Gaming Hacks, "O'Reilly Media, Inc.", →ISBN, page 320:
- 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.
- 2013, David Vizard, David Vizard's How to Super Tune and Modify Holley Carburetors, CarTech Inc, →ISBN, page 74:
- When 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.
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