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oxide

n. C / U
C1 Advanced US //ˈɑkˌsaɪd// UK //ˈɒksaɪd// ox·ide

n. a chemical substance that forms when oxygen combines with another element. You might know it as rust when it happens to iron.

n. a binary compound of oxygen with another element or group. Often used in technical contexts to describe the result of oxidation processes.


SIMPLE

Iron oxide is the scientific name for rust.

CONTEXTUAL

The chemist analyzed the white powder and identified it as zinc oxide, commonly used in sunscreens.

COMPLEX

Environmental regulations have become increasingly strict regarding the emission of nitrogen oxide from industrial plants due to its role in the formation of acid rain.

Origin

Archaic French oxide (now oxyde), from a blend of ox(ygene) and (ac)ide, coined by G. de Morveau and A. Lavoisier. By surface analysis, ox- + -ide.

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the chemical substance in general; countable when referring to specific types or varieties of the compound.

Idioms1 entry

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