nitrify

Definition of Nitrify in English :

1. nitrify

convert into nitric acid, nitrous acid, or nitrate, especially with the action of nitrobacteria

treat with nitrogen or a nitrogen compound

3. nitrify

treat (soil) with nitrates

WordNet Lexical Database for English. Princeton University. 2010.

Nitrify

verb -fies, -fying or -fied (transitive)

1.

to treat or cause to react with nitrogen or a nitrogen compound

2.

to treat (soil) with nitrates

3.

(of nitrobacteria) to convert (ammonium compounds) into nitrates by oxidation

verb transitiveWord forms: ˈnitriˌfied or ˈnitriˌfying

1.

to combine with nitrogen or nitrogen compounds

2.

to impregnate (soil, etc.) with nitrates

3.

to cause the oxidation of (ammonium salts, atmospheric nitrogen, etc.) to nitrites and nitrates, as by the action of soil bacteria, etc.

tr.v. ni·tri·fied, ni·tri·fy·ing, ni·tri·fies

1. To oxidize (an ammonia compound) into a nitrite or (a nitrite) into a nitrate, especially by the action of nitrifying bacteria.

2. To treat or combine with nitrogen or compounds containing nitrogen.