Oxygen

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈɒksɪdÍ¡Ê’É™nÌ©/

Origin

Borrowed from French oxygène (originally in the form principe oxygène, a variant of principe oxigine ‘acidifying principle’, suggested by Lavoisier), from Ancient Greek ὀξύς (oxus, "sharp") + γένος (genos, "birth"), referring to oxygen's role in the formation of acids.

Noun

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

• 2013, Katie L. Burke, In the News, Oxygen levels on Earth skyrocketed 2.4 billion years ago, when cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis: the ability to convert water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and waste oxygen using solar energy. The evolutionary precursor of photosynthesis is still under debate, and a new study sheds light.
1. (medicine) A mixture of oxygen and other gases, administered to a patient to help him or her to breathe.
2. (countable) An atom of this element.

Derived terms

Related terms

Synonyms

• sourstuff
• E948 when used as a packaging gas