Definitions for oxygen
ˈɒk sɪ dʒənoxy·gen

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:2.0 / 2 votes

1. oxygen, O, atomic number 8noun

   a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

GCIDERate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. Oxygennoun

   (Chem.) A colorless, tasteless, odorless, gaseous element of atomic number 8, occurring in the free state in the atmosphere, of which it forms about 23 per cent by weight and about 21 per cent by volume, being slightly heavier than nitrogen. Symbol O. Atomic weight 15.9994.

WiktionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 2 votes

1. oxygennoun

   A chemical element (symbol O) with an atomic number of 8 and relative atomic mass of 15.9994.

2. oxygennoun

   Molecular oxygen (O), a colorless, odorless gas at room temperature.

3. oxygennoun

   A mixture of oxygen and other gases, administered to a patient to help him or her to breathe.

4. oxygennoun

   An atom of this element.

5. Etymology: Borrowed from oxygène (originally in the form principe oxygène, a variant of principe oxigine ‘acidifying principle’, suggested by Lavoisier), from ὀξύς + γένος, referring to oxygen's role in the formation of acids.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Oxygen

   Oxygen is the chemical element with the symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a member of the chalcogen group in the periodic table, a highly reactive nonmetal, and an oxidizing agent that readily forms oxides with most elements as well as with other compounds. Oxygen is Earth's most abundant element, and after hydrogen and helium, it is the third-most abundant element in the universe. At standard temperature and pressure, two atoms of the element bind to form dioxygen, a colorless and odorless diatomic gas with the formula O2. Diatomic oxygen gas currently constitutes 20.95% of the Earth's atmosphere, though this has changed considerably over long periods of time. Oxygen makes up almost half of the Earth's crust in the form of oxides.Many major classes of organic molecules in living organisms contain oxygen atoms, such as proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and fats, as do the major constituent inorganic compounds of animal shells, teeth, and bone. Most of the mass of living organisms is oxygen as a component of water, the major constituent of lifeforms. Oxygen is continuously replenished in Earth's atmosphere by photosynthesis, which uses the energy of sunlight to produce oxygen from water and carbon dioxide. Oxygen is too chemically reactive to remain a free element in air without being continuously replenished by the photosynthetic action of living organisms. Another form (allotrope) of oxygen, ozone (O3), strongly absorbs ultraviolet UVB radiation and the high-altitude ozone layer helps protect the biosphere from ultraviolet radiation. However, ozone present at the surface is a byproduct of smog and thus a pollutant. Oxygen was isolated by Michael Sendivogius before 1604, but it is commonly believed that the element was discovered independently by Carl Wilhelm Scheele, in Uppsala, in 1773 or earlier, and Joseph Priestley in Wiltshire, in 1774. Priority is often given for Priestley because his work was published first. Priestley, however, called oxygen "dephlogisticated air", and did not recognize it as a chemical element. The name oxygen was coined in 1777 by Antoine Lavoisier, who first recognized oxygen as a chemical element and correctly characterized the role it plays in combustion. Common uses of oxygen include production of steel, plastics and textiles, brazing, welding and cutting of steels and other metals, rocket propellant, oxygen therapy, and life support systems in aircraft, submarines, spaceflight and diving.

FreebaseRate this definition:4.5 / 2 votes

1. Oxygen

   Oxygen is a chemical element with symbol O and atomic number 8. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γόνος, because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition. At standard temperature and pressure, two atoms of the element bind to form dioxygen, a colorless, odorless, tasteless diatomic gas with the formula O2. This substance is an important part of the atmosphere, and is necessary to sustain most terrestrial life. Oxygen is a member of the chalcogen group on the periodic table and is a highly reactive nonmetallic element that readily forms compounds with most elements except the noble gases Helium and Neon. Oxygen is a strong oxidizing agent and only fluorine has greater electronegativity. By mass, oxygen is the third-most abundant element in the universe, after hydrogen and helium and the most abundant element by mass in the Earth's crust, making up almost half of the crust's mass. Oxygen is too chemically reactive to remain a free element in Earth's atmosphere without being continuously replenished by the photosynthetic action of living organisms, which use the energy of sunlight to produce elemental oxygen from water. Free elemental O2 only began to accumulate in the atmosphere about 2.5 billion years ago about a billion years after the first appearance of these organisms. Diatomic oxygen gas constitutes 20.8% of the volume of air.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. Oxygen

   oks′i-jen, n. a gas without taste, colour, or smell, forming part of the air, water, &c., and supporting life and combustion.—n. Oxychlō′ride, a chemical compound containing both chlorine and oxygen in combination with some other element.—v.t. Ox′ygenāte, to unite, or cause to unite, with oxygen.—n. Oxygenā′tion, act of oxygenating.—v.t. Ox′ygenise (same as Oxygenate).—adj. Oxyg′enous, pertaining to, or obtained from, oxygen.—adj. Oxyhy′drogen, pertaining to a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen, as in a form of blowpipe in which jets of either ignite as they issue from separate reservoirs. [Gr. oxys, sharp, gen, the root of gennaein, to generate.]

The Nuttall EncyclopediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Oxygen

   a colourless, inodorous gas which constitutes one-fifth in volume of the atmosphere, and which, in combination with hydrogen, forms water. It is the most widely diffused of all the elementary bodies, and an essential support to everything possessed of life.

U.S. National Library of MedicineRate this definition:2.0 / 1 vote

1. Oxygen

   An element with atomic symbol O, atomic number 8, and atomic weight 16. It is the most abundant element on earth and essential for respiration.

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. oxygen

   An element.

   Oxygen is vital for life.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on January 30, 2020  

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:3.0 / 2 votes

1. oxygen

   Song lyrics by oxygen -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by oxygen on the Lyrics.com website.

British National Corpus

1. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'oxygen' in Written Corpus Frequency: #3520

2. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'oxygen' in Nouns Frequency: #1913

How to pronounce oxygen?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say oxygen in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of oxygen in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of oxygen in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of oxygen in a Sentence

1. Katie Towns:

   The illness has really shifted from being an older population... to being ages 20, 30, 40 years old in the hospital and needing ICU care and oxygen.

2. Tony Taliancich:

   Then we will prepare all the ground systems and get ready for cryogenic operations, fueling the rocket, that starts around 10pm, then we get into actually fueling the rocket, preparing it for launch – you’re adding the super cold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen to fuel the rocket.

3. Alice Walker:

   The animals of the planet are in desperate peril... Without free animal life I believe we will lose the spiritual equivalent of oxygen.

4. Emil Brunner:

   What oxygen is to the lungs, such is hope to the meaning of life.

5. Bridget Wiedenmeyer:

   At school, she can't administer her own medication, but she can use her pulse oximeter in class. And if her blood oxygen drops, then her teacher can call me. It can happen so quickly.

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