Standard Lemma guide

denitrify

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To remove nitrogen, often through the breakdown of nitrogenous compounds and the release of nitrogen gas.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: chemistry, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

remove nitrogen from

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Denitrify the soil

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: nitrify

Broader terms: change state, turn

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *de Proto-Indo-European *-h1 Proto-Indo-European *déh1 Proto-Italic *dē Latin dē Latin dē-der. English de- Egyptian nṯr Proto-Afroasiatic *-i? Egyptian -j Egyptian nṯrjder. Semiticbor. Ancient Greek νῐ́τρον (nĭ́tron) English nitro- Latin -i- Proto-Indo-European *dheh1-der. Proto-Italic *θakos Proto-Italic *-fakos Latin -ficus Proto-Indo-European *-h2 Proto-Indo-European *-éh2 Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh2yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h2tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin -ficō Latin -ificāreder. Old French -ifierbor. Middle English -ifien English -ify English denitrify From de- + nitro- + -ify.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 除氮 (chúdàn) — to remove nitrogen
  • German: denitrieren — to remove nitrogen
  • Japanese: 脱窒する (datchitsu suru) — to remove nitrogen
  • Korean: 질소(窒素)를 제거(除去)하다 (jilso-reul jegeohada) — to remove nitrogen
  • Māori: tuku hauota — to remove nitrogen
  • Vietnamese: loại nitơ — to remove nitrogen
  • Welsh: dadnitreiddio — to remove nitrogen