nitrous oxide: Meaning and Definition of

ni'trous ox'ide

Pronunciation: [key]
— Chem., Pharm. Chem.,Pharm.
  1. a colorless, sweet-smelling, sweet-tasting, nonflammable, slightly water-soluble gas, NO, that sometimes produces a feeling of exhilaration when inhaled: used chiefly as an anesthetic in dentistry and surgery, in the manufacture of chemicals, and as an aerosol. Also called
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.