nitreous

Adjective

nitrous (not comparable)

1. (historical) Pertaining to or composed of nitre; having the properties of nitre, bitter.
   • 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
2. Of, relating to, or derived from nitrogen, especially in which the valence of the nitrogen is lower than that of a corresponding nitric species.
   • 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 156–157
3. Of or relating to nitrous acid or its derivatives.
4. Having a sharp odor like ammonia or nitric acid.

See all 6 meanings of nitrous