n.
- The conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into compounds, such as ammonia, by natural agencies or various industrial processes.
- The conversion by certain soil microorganisms, such as rhizobia, of atmospheric nitrogen into compounds that plants and other organisms can assimilate.
nitrogen-fixing ni'tro·gen-fix'ing adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
