Word
oxygen
Phoneticsoxy·gen
US/ˈɑksədʒən/
UK/ˈɒksɪdʒən/
Definitions
01the gas we breathe
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Science
n. the gas in the air that you need to breathe to stay alive.
n. the molecular form of the element (O₂) which constitutes approximately 21 percent of the Earth's atmosphere and is vital for life.
日本語:酸素※
“The doctor gave the patient some oxygen to help him breathe more easily.”
“Plants produce oxygen during photosynthesis, which is then released into the atmosphere and used by animals for cellular respiration.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the gas in general; countable only in technical chemical contexts referring to specific atoms.
02the chemical element
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Science Technical
n. the chemical element with the symbol O and atomic number 8.
n. the chemical element with atomic number 8; it is the most abundant element by mass in the Earth's crust.
日本語:酸素※
Español:oxígeno
“Water is made of two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen.”
“The researcher analyzed the isotopes of oxygen found within the ice core samples to determine historical temperature fluctuations.”
03support for an idea
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Literary
n. the things or attention that an idea or project needs to grow and succeed.
n. the metaphorical 'air' or support required for an idea, movement, or person to flourish or remain relevant.
“The new law gave the small business community the oxygen it needed to grow.”
“By refusing to debate the extremist group, the prime minister denied them the oxygen of publicity they so desperately craved.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “oxygen” in context.
Verb
01. deprive of oxygen
“The brain can be permanently damaged if it is deprived of oxygen for more than a few minutes.”
verb + prep + noun
02. inhale oxygen
“Divers need to inhale oxygen from tanks when they are deep underwater.”
verb + noun
03. supply oxygen
“The blood vessels supply oxygen to the brain and other vital organs.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. atmospheric oxygen
“Most living organisms depend on atmospheric oxygen to survive.”
adj + noun
05. pure oxygen
“Patients with severe breathing difficulties are often given pure oxygen to help them recover.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. lack of oxygen
“Mountain climbers often experience dizziness due to the lack of oxygen at high altitudes.”
noun + of + noun
07. oxygen level
“The sensors monitor the oxygen level in the cabin to ensure the safety of the crew.”
noun + noun
08. oxygen mask
“In the event of a sudden drop in pressure, an oxygen mask will drop from the ceiling.”
noun + noun
09. oxygen levels
Real-World Examples
“A key feature of this period was that oxygen levels were much lower than they are today.” “The body responds by sending more blood toward the skin to release that heat while continuing to supply oxygen to working muscles.” “The results suggest that high oxygen levels and other environmental conditions may not have been the only factors involved.” Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ-der.? Ancient Greek ὀξύς (oxús) Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *ǵénh₁os Proto-Hellenic *génos Ancient Greek γένος (génos) French oxygènebor. English oxygen Borrowed from French oxygène (originally in the form principe oxygène, a variant of principe oxigine ‘acidifying principle’, suggested by Lavoisier), from Ancient Greek ὀξύς (oxús, “sharp”) + γένος (génos, “birth”), referring to oxygen's supposed role in the formation of acids. By surface analysis, oxy- + -gen.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Idioms
01. oxygen burning
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/oxygen
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0