OriginFrom Middle English niter, nitere, nitre, nytre, from Old French nitre, from Latin nitrum (“native soda, natron”), from Ancient Greek νίτρον (nítron). Ultimately from Egyptian nṯrj (“natron”). Doublet of natron and trona. Compare also natrium, nitrogen.
- US, countable, uncountableA mineral form of potassium nitrate (saltpetre) used in making gunpowder.
- countable, obsolete, uncountableNative sodium carbonate; natron.
Formsniters(plural) · nitre(alternative, UK)