azotising
|a-zo-tis-ing|
🇺🇸
/ˈæzoʊtaɪz/
🇬🇧
/ˈæzətaɪz/
(azotise)
add or treat with nitrogen
Etymology
'azotise' originates from French 'azote' (from modern French 'azote'), ultimately from Greek 'azōtos' where 'a-' meant 'not' and 'zōē' meant 'life' (referring to nitrogen gas, which does not support respiration).
'azotise' changed from French/Neo-Latin usage related to 'azote' and the noun 'azot'/'azote' into the English verb 'azotize/azotise' (formed in the 19th century) and later into variants such as 'azotised' and 'azotising'.
Initially, the root referred to 'azote' (the gas thought to be 'lifeless'); over time the verb form came to mean 'to add or combine with nitrogen', a technical chemical/materials meaning that remains today.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
present participle of 'azotise': to introduce nitrogen into (a substance or compound); to treat with nitrogen
The chemist was azotising the polymer to improve its resistance to oxidation.
Synonyms
Verb 2
present participle of 'azotise' (less common usage): to convert or combine with nitrogen in a chemical process (e.g., in metallurgy or materials treatment)
Azotising the surface produced a hard nitrided layer on the steel.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/08 05:52