oxygen
noun
ox·y·gen
ˈäk-si-jən 
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
Joseph EpsteinExamples of oxygen in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Nebulizer patients might be candidates for home oxygen.
—Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 13 Nov. 2024
But horror shows are a hard sell especially on broadcast networks like NBC (Hannibal might have taken up all the oxygen there) and the occult series never got picked up for a second season.
—Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
Iron deficiency anemia occurs when the body lacks sufficient iron to produce hemoglobin, a vital protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 5 Nov. 2024
Packaging: Probiotics are usually packaged in ways designed to protect them from getting killed by moisture, oxygen, or light.
—Elizabeth Barnes, Verywell Health, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for oxygen 
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Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 13 Nov. 2024
But horror shows are a hard sell especially on broadcast networks like NBC (Hannibal might have taken up all the oxygen there) and the occult series never got picked up for a second season.
—Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
Iron deficiency anemia occurs when the body lacks sufficient iron to produce hemoglobin, a vital protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 5 Nov. 2024
Packaging: Probiotics are usually packaged in ways designed to protect them from getting killed by moisture, oxygen, or light.
—Elizabeth Barnes, Verywell Health, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for oxygen
Dictionary Entries Near oxygen
Cite this Entry
“Oxygen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oxygen. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
oxygen
noun
ox·y·gen
ˈäk-si-jən
: 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
: 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
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