oxygen

noun

ox·​y·​gen ˈäk-si-jən How to pronounce oxygen (audio)
1
: a chemical element with atomic number 8 that constitutes 21 percent of the Earth's atmosphere, that is capable of combining with all elements except some noble gases, that is active in physiological processes of almost all known organisms, and that is involved especially in combustion
often used before another noun
oxygen tanks
an oxygen mask
see Chemical Elements Table
2
: something that sustains or fuels
Disagreement is the true oxygen of these magazines …Joseph Epstein
oxygenless adjective

Examples of oxygen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The death toll has been rising since last week when incubators and oxygen supplies at Kamal Adwan Hospital ceased to operate at night because of fuel shortages, the ministry said. Helen Regan, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024 The luxury line offers six eco-friendly products: detergent, an oxygen bleach alternative, fabric softener, fabric refresher spray, stain remover and wool dryer balls. Hannah Chubb, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024 This strategy gives the body time to complete its natural physiologic responses to the changes in air pressure and oxygen content. Brian Strickland, The Conversation, 1 Mar. 2024 By removing middlemen on the distribution/sales side of things, KOW is able to limit the amount of temperature swings, oxygen swings, and handlers touching this premium product along the way. Kaleigh Moore, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Doctors said the confusion was possibly from the block of oxygen to his brain. Patricia A Gonzalez Portillo, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024 Firefighters with masks and oxygen tanks worked their way through the charred building looking for bodies or survivors, though a spokesman for the fire service said the chances of anybody having survived such a blaze were slim. Reuters, NBC News, 23 Feb. 2024 Low-level technologies such as biochar—created by burning wood in very low oxygen—alongside basal rocks, which absorb CO2 over thousands of years, make good fertilizer that locks carbon in. Stephen Armstrong, WIRED, 21 Feb. 2024 Because of this, muscles in your legs don’t get enough blood and oxygen even while resting. Francisco J. Rivera Rosario, Health, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'oxygen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French oxygène, from Greek oxys, adjective, acidic, literally, sharp + French -gène -gen; akin to Latin acer sharp — more at edge

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of oxygen was in 1788

Dictionary Entries Near oxygen

Cite this Entry

“Oxygen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oxygen. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

oxygen

noun
ox·​y·​gen ˈäk-si-jən How to pronounce oxygen (audio)
: a reactive element that is found in water, rocks, and free as a colorless tasteless odorless gas which forms about 21 percent of the atmosphere, that is capable of combining with almost all elements, and that is necessary for life see element
Etymology

from French oxygène "oxygen," literally, "acid producer," from oxy- "sharp, acid" (from Greek oxys "sharp, sour") and -gène "one that produces or generates" (from Greek -genēs "born, generated")

Word Origin
Oxygen was discovered by two scientists working independently, Joseph Priestley of England and Carl Scheele of Sweden. However, it was the French chemist Antoine Lavoisier who later gave the gas its name. He said the most common characteristic of this element was its ability to combine with other substances to form acids. For this reason Lavoisier named it oxygène, literally meaning "acid producer." The origin of his word was two Greek elements, oxys, meaning "sharp, sour," and -genēs, meaning "born, generated."

Medical Definition

oxygen

noun
ox·​y·​gen ˈäk-si-jən How to pronounce oxygen (audio)
: a colorless tasteless odorless gaseous element that constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere and is found in water, in most rocks and minerals, and in numerous organic compounds, that is capable of combining with all elements except the inert gases, that is active in physiological processes, and that is involved especially in combustion processes
symbol O
see Chemical Elements Table
oxygenic adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on oxygen

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