nitrous

Adjective

WordNet 3.0

Adjective (1)

of or containing nitrogen“nitric acid”Synonyms: azotic nitric

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Nitrous \Ni"trous\, a. [L. nitrosus full of natron: cf. F. nitreux. See Niter.]

1.Of, pertaining to, or containing, niter; of the quality of niter, or resembling it. [1913 Webster]

2.(Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, any one of those compounds in which nitrogen has a relatively lower valence as contrasted with nitric compounds. [1913 Webster]

Nitrous acid (Chem.), a hypothetical acid of nitrogen HNO2, not known in the free state, but forming a well known series of salts, viz., the nitrites.

Nitrous oxide. See Laughing gas. [1913 Webster]