saltpetre
Potassium nitratePotassium nitrate.
/ˈsɔːltpiːtə(ɹ)/
Meaning
2 senses(uncountable, usually)Potassium nitrate.
(uncommon, uncountable, usually)Sodium nitrate.
More definitions
- (KNO3) used especially as a fertilizer and explosive
Origin
From Middle English saltpetre, alteration of Old French salpetre, from Medieval Latin sālFrom Middle English saltpetre, alteration of Old French salpetre, from Medieval Latin sāl petrae (“salt of the rock”), named so being found as an incrustation. Alteration of the first element is from folk-etymological association with salt (which is, nevertheless, cognate to Latin sāl).
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Forms
plural: saltpetresSynonyms
13 synonymspotassium nitrate:niternitrepotassium nitrateChilean saltpeterChilean saltpetrenitrate of potash
sodium nitrate:calicheChile saltpetresoda nitersoda nitresodium nitrateChile saltpeter
Close in meaning
- (KNO3) used especially as a fertilizer and explosive:potassium nitratesaltpeterniternitre
Lessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable