denitrifying
|de-ni-tri-fy-ing|
/diːˈnaɪtrɪfaɪ/
(denitrify)
remove nitrate
Etymology
'denitrify' originates from English scientific coinage combining the prefix 'de-' (meaning 'remove'), the element 'nitri-' from 'nitre'/'nitrate' (from Latin 'nitrum'/'nitras'), and the suffix '-fy' (from Latin 'facere', meaning 'to make' or 'to do').
'nitrate' traces back through Modern French and Medieval Latin to Latin 'nitrum' and Greek 'nitron'; the verb 'denitrify' was formed in scientific English (late 19th–20th century) by combining these elements to denote the removal of nitrate, and became current technical vocabulary in chemistry and microbiology.
Initially the parts referred to chemical substance names and general action ('remove' + 'nitrate' + 'make/do'); over time the coined verb specifically came to mean 'to remove nitrate (often by reduction or microbial action)', a technical term retained in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
present participle or gerund form of 'denitrify' — performing the process of removing nitrate or nitrite (typically by reduction to nitrogen gas), often used for chemical or biological treatment.
Scientists are denitrifying the wastewater to reduce nitrate levels.
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Adjective 1
describing organisms, processes, or conditions that perform or are capable of denitrification (removal of nitrate/nitrite, usually via reduction to N2).
Denitrifying bacteria play a key role in nitrogen cycling in soils.
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Last updated: 2025/08/30 06:53