Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun An abbreviation of nitro-powder.
  • noun An element in some compounds, meaning ‘niter,’ and usually implying ‘nitrogen’ or ‘nitric acid’; specifically, as a prefix in chemical words, indicating the presence of the radical nitryl (NO2) in certain compounds: as, nitro-aniline, nitr anisic acid, nitro -benzamide, nitro-benzoic acid.
  • noun It is also employed, very commonly but in regard to technical use incorrectly, as a part of the name of a compound which does not contain the radical nitryl (NO2) with its nitrogen directly united to carbon. Thus nitroglycerin and nitrocellulose (guncotton) are not nitro-compounds in the technical sense of the term, but nitrates.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Nitroglycerin.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun chemistry the univalent NO2 functional group
  • noun informal nitroglycerin, especially as medication
  • adjective chemistry containing the nitro group; such compounds tend to be unstable and often explosive

Etymologies

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Examples

  • The Nintendo Gamecube was originally code named 'Dolphin', with the GPU being called flipper, Also the Nintendo DS codename nitro was ditched after development.

    Nintendo Wii News 2009

  • Some may conclude that anyone wanting to turn a profit in the restaurant trade should eschew copying the Fat Duck's celebrated menu, which boasts staples such as nitro poached green tea and lime mousse and snail porridge, and focus on more traditional fare.

    Heston Blumenthal finds pub grub is good for profits as the Fat Duck slims down 2010

  • It is thus obvious that picric acid is much less explosive than the nitric ethers, such as nitro-glycerol and nitro-cellulose, and very considerably less explosive than the nitrogen compounds and fulminates.

    Nitro-Explosives: A Practical Treatise

  • The solution, after standing for about an hour, is poured in a fine stream into a large volume of water, by which the "nitro" body is precipitated as a white flocculent mass.

    Nitro-Explosives: A Practical Treatise

  • Sometimes the pickguard of this vintage Fender is called a "nitro" pickguard.

    MyLinkVault Newest Links 2009

  • (And yes, we know some of these things are fueled with alcohol and "nitro," whatever that is, but still ...)

    Summit Daily News - Top Stories By Jim Beam 2009

  • Because of the movie "The Fast and the Furious" many people today think that the word "nitro" means having something extra on your car that boosts its speed. ...

    Feeds4all documents in category 'SEO' 2008

  • the 600nitro throws a 900gr bullet at 1900fps. it doesnt use black, thus the "nitro" designation. the 4bore throws a 1750-1950 grain ball or bullet at 1350-1450fps with 400-600gr of Fg black powder

    Want to See a Real Man's Gun? Steve Perry 2007

  • a suitable non-volatile or slightly volatile "solvent," such as nitro - naphthalene, di-nitro-benzene, nitro-toluene, or its homologues; products are obtained varying from a gelatinous consistency to the hardness of ebonite.

    Nitro-Explosives: A Practical Treatise

  • There, I enthusiastically produced hydrogen gas, sweet-smelling aldehydes and nitro compounds (not nitro-glycerine!) that had the unfortunate habit of blowing up in my face.

    Luc Montagnier - Autobiography 2009

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