NOUN (1)

1. any compound containing the nitrate group (such as a salt or ester of nitric acid);


VERB (1)

1. treat with nitric acid, so as to change an organic compound into a nitrate;
- Example: "nitroglycerin is obtained by nitrating glycerol"

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Nitrate \Ni"trate\, n. [Cf. F. nitrate.] (Chem.)
   A salt of nitric acid.
   [1913 Webster]

   Nitrate of silver, a white crystalline salt (AgNO3), used
      in photography and as a cauterizing agent; -- called also
      lunar caustic, and more commonly called silver
      nitrate.
      [1913 Webster +PJC]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

nitrate
    n 1: any compound containing the nitrate group (such as a salt
         or ester of nitric acid)
    v 1: treat with nitric acid, so as to change an organic compound
         into a nitrate; "nitroglycerin is obtained by nitrating
         glycerol"