nitrogen cycle

noun

: a continuous series of natural processes by which nitrogen passes successively from air to soil to organisms and back to air or soil involving principally nitrogen fixation, nitrification, decay, and denitrification

Examples of nitrogen cycle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Together, the two stages form an important step (called nitrification) in the nitrogen cycle that operates on Earth. Jacek Krywko, Ars Technica, 13 Sep. 2023 The water cycle, nitrogen cycle, the oxygen cycle, the carbon cycle—dust is feeding into all of these. Matt Simon, WIRED, 27 Nov. 2023 This nitrogen cycle, properly balanced, is fundamental to life. IEEE Spectrum, 25 Sep. 2019 This has led to the development of artificial fertilizers and a global industry dedicated to manipulating the nitrogen cycle via an industrial approach to creating ammonia called the Haber-Bosch process. The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 14 Apr. 2022 Barbe notes that basic natural processes like the nitrogen cycle don’t occur in the game, nor do key relationships between organisms, like parasitism. James Dinneen, Discover Magazine, 14 Apr. 2021 The worry here is that a profound change in the nitrogen cycle could prove devastating for organisms that are crucial to the ocean food web. Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 22 Dec. 2010 Biology students may remember learning the water cycle, the carbon cycle or the nitrogen cycle. Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2021 Among that sediment was cyanobacteria, microorganisms capable of photosynthesis and an important player in the nitrogen cycle. Scottie Andrew, CNN, 4 Feb. 2020

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

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nitrogen cycle was in 1906

Dictionary Entries Near nitrogen cycle

Cite this Entry

“Nitrogen cycle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nitrogen%20cycle. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

nitrogen cycle

noun
: a continuous series of natural processes by which nitrogen passes from air to soil to living things and back to the air by means of nitrogen fixation, nitrification, decay, and denitrification

Medical Definition

nitrogen cycle

noun
: a continuous series of natural processes by which nitrogen passes through successive stations in air, soil, and organisms and which principally involves nitrogen fixation, nitrification, decay, and denitrification

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