Also spelled nitro-glycerin and nitroglycerine
noun
Freq #35593
Meanings
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1
noun
a dense, oily, highly explosive liquid made by nitrating glycerol and used in explosives such as dynamite
The blasting crew handled the nitroglycerin under tightly controlled conditions.
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2
noun
the same compound used in small medicinal doses to widen blood vessels and relieve angina
The doctor prescribed nitroglycerin tablets for sudden attacks of chest pain.
Thesaurus
Etymology
Formed from nitro- + glycerin. Nitroglycerin was first prepared in 1847 by nitrating glycerol; its systematic chemical name is glyceryl trinitrate.