ozone
|o-zone|
🇺🇸
/ˈoʊzoʊn/
🇬🇧
/ˈəʊzəʊn/
sharp-smelling, reactive oxygen (O3)
Etymology
'ozone' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'ozein', where 'ozein' meant 'to smell'.
'ozone' entered modern scientific vocabulary via German 'Ozon' (coined by C. F. Schönbein in the 1840s) and then became the English word 'ozone'.
Initially, it referred to a smell (related to 'to smell') and was later used to name the pungent, reactive form of oxygen (O3); it now denotes the chemical species and related atmospheric concepts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a triatomic form of oxygen (O3), a reactive molecule with a sharp, characteristic odor.
After the lightning strike, people noticed the smell of ozone in the air.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the layer of ozone in the stratosphere that absorbs most of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
The ozone layer protects life on Earth by absorbing harmful UV rays from the sun.
Synonyms
Noun 3
ozone present at ground level, formed by photochemical reactions (often from vehicle and industrial emissions); considered an air pollutant harmful to human health and vegetation.
High concentrations of ground-level ozone can worsen asthma and other respiratory conditions.
Synonyms
Noun 4
ozone used as an oxidizing agent for disinfection, deodorization, or water treatment.
The water treatment plant uses ozone to disinfect drinking water.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/11/10 12:58