nitroglycerin

[ nahy-truh-glis-er-in ]
/ ˌnaɪ trəˈglɪs ər ɪn /

noun Chemistry, Pharmacology.

a colorless, thick, oily, flammable, highly explosive, slightly water-soluble liquid, C3H5N3O9, prepared from glycerol with nitric and sulfuric acids: used chiefly as a constituent of dynamite and other explosives, in rocket propellants, and in medicine as a vasodilator in the treatment of angina pectoris.
Also ni·tro·glyc·er·ine [nahy-truh-glis-er-in, -uh-reen] /ˌnaɪ trəˈglɪs ər ɪn, -əˌrin/.
Also called glonoin, glyceryl trinitrate, trinitroglycerin.

Origin of nitroglycerin

First recorded in 1855–60; nitro- + glycerin

Words nearby nitroglycerin

nitrogen-fixing, nitrogenase, nitrogenize, nitrogenous, nitrogenous wastes, nitroglycerin, nitroglycerine, nitrohydrochloric acid, nitrolic, nitromannitol, nitromersol

Example sentences from the Web for nitroglycerine

British Dictionary definitions for nitroglycerine

nitroglycerine

nitroglycerin (-ˈɡlɪsərɪn)

/ (ˌnaɪtrəʊˈɡlɪsəˌriːn) /

noun

a pale yellow viscous explosive liquid substance made from glycerol and nitric and sulphuric acids and used in explosives, and in medicine as a vasodilator. Formula: CH 2 NO 3 CHNO 3 CH 2 NO 3 Also called: trinitroglycerine

Medical definitions for nitroglycerine

nitroglycerin

n.

A thick, pale yellow liquid that is explosive on concussion or exposure to sudden heat, used as a vasodilator in medicine.

Scientific definitions for nitroglycerine

nitroglycerin
[ nī′trō-glĭs′ər-ĭn ]

A thick, pale-yellow, explosive liquid formed by treating glycerin with nitric and sulfuric acids. It is used to make dynamite and in medicine to dilate blood vessels. Chemical formula: C3H5N3O9.