See Also: oxygen(dictionary)
oxygen-15(medicine)
oxygen-16(medicine)
oxygen-17(medicine)
oxygen-18(medicine)
Oxygen(health)
oxygen(dictionary)
oxygen(encyclopedia)
oxygen bar(dictionary)
Oxygen(medicine)

oxygen (iou)



oxygen noun. L18.
[French (sc. principe) oxygene acidifying principle (oxygen being orig. supposed an essential component of acids): see OXY-, -GEN.]
A non-metallic chemical element, atomic no. 8, which as a colourless odourless gas (O2) makes up about 20 per cent of the air, is essential for aerobic respiration, and is the chief agent of combustion, rusting of metals, etc., and which is combined with hydrogen to form water, with carbon in organic compounds, and with most elements to form the majority of the earth's minerals. (Symbol O.)
Comb.: oxygen acid = OXYACID; oxygen bar a place where customers pay to inhale oxygen for therapeutic effects; oxygen debt, oxygen deficit Physiology the condition or degree of temporary oxygen shortage in the tissues arising from exercise; oxygen lance (a) a thermic lance that uses oxygen; (b) see LANCE noun 7b; oxygen mask an apparatus fitting over the nose and mouth through which oxygen or oxygen-enriched air is supplied to relieve breathing difficulties or hypoxia; oxygen tent Medicine a tentlike enclosure placed over a patient and containing an oxygen-enriched atmosphere.
oxygenless adjective containing no oxygen M20.