nitro

An abbreviation of nitro-powder.

An element in some compounds, meaning ‘niter,’ and usually implying ‘nitrogen’ or ‘nitric acid’; specifically, as a prefix in chemical words, indicating the presence of the radical nitryl (NO2) in certain compounds.

It is also employed, very commonly but in regard to technical use incorrectly, as a part of the name of a compound which does not contain the radical nitryl (NO2) with its nitrogen directly united to carbon. Thus nitroglycerin and nitrocellulose (guncotton) are not nitro-compounds in the technical sense of the term, but nitrates.

Nitroglycerin.

The univalent NO2 functional group.