saltpeter; niter; nitrate mineral
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
saltpeter; niter; naturally occurring mineral salt of potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate
Historically crucial for gunpowder production. Occurs naturally as colorless, white, or gray crystals with vitreous luster.
Xiāo硝
shí石
shì是
zhì制
zào造
huǒ火
yào药
de的
zhòng重
yào要
yuán原
liào料
。
Saltpeter is an important raw material for making gunpowder.
Zhè这
zhǒng种
tǔ土
rǎng壤
fù富
hán含
xiāo硝
shí石
。
This soil is rich in saltpeter.
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Nóng农
mín民
yòng用
xiāo硝
shí石
gěi给
tǔ土
dì地
shī施
féi肥
。
Farmers use saltpeter to fertilize the land.
Wú无
sè色
tòu透
míng明
de的
jīng晶
tǐ体
kě可
néng能
shì是
bīng冰
，
yě也
kě可
néng能
shì是
xiāo硝
shí石
。
Colorless transparent crystals might be ice, or they might be saltpeter.