oxide

IPA/ˈɒksaɪd/
KK[ˈɑksˌaɪd]IPA/ˈɑːksaɪd/

oxide — noun

  • oxidesingular
  • oxidesplural

1. a substance made when oxygen joins with another chemical element

1.nounC1
Definition

a substance made when oxygen joins with another chemical element

Example

Iron oxide gives the old gate its red-brown color.

common compound name: iron oxide

The lab heated copper oxide before the students measured its weight.

common compound name: copper oxide

Common collocations
  • iron oxide
  • copper oxide
  • zinc oxide
  • metal oxide
Synonyms
  • compound

    A broader term for any substance made from more than one element.

  • oxygen compound

    An explanatory phrase, but less technical and less standard than oxide.

Usage Note

Usually follows the name of the other element, as in iron oxide or zinc oxide. In general science writing, it often appears in fixed compound names rather than alone.

Common Mistakes

The lab tested oxide copper.
The lab tested copper oxide.
In chemistry names, the other element usually comes before 'oxide'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Oxide is a chemistry term for a substance formed when oxygen joins with another element. Compound is much broader: water, salt, and sugar are all compounds, but not all compounds are oxides. Mineral usually refers to a natural solid found in rocks or soil, so it describes where a substance is found, not its chemical type. Rust is much narrower than oxide because it refers mainly to the reddish iron oxide that appears on iron or steel. Use oxide when the oxygen relationship matters, especially in names such as zinc oxide or copper oxide. For example, say 'Zinc oxide protects skin,' but 'Quartz is a mineral' and 'Rust covered the fence.'

compound ↗mineral ↗rust ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • oxide layer
  • oxide film
  • oxide coating

Phrases

  • form an oxide
  • remove the oxide

Etymology

FrenchEnglish

Oxide entered English as a scientific chemistry word through French oxyde. It was built from oxygen and the chemical ending -ide, and it names substances in which oxygen is joined to another element.