noun
- a white crystalline compound (potassium nitrate) used in making gunpowder, fertilizers, and preserving food
Usage: also spelled 'nitre' in British English
Examples
- Niter was a key ingredient in the production of gunpowder during the medieval period.
- The chemist carefully measured the niter for the experiment.
- Niter deposits were mined extensively in caves and mines throughout history.
- The food manufacturer used niter as a preservative in cured meats.
- Farmers sometimes apply niter-based fertilizers to improve soil nitrogen content.