niter
/ˈnaɪtər/
noun
- A white or gray mineral substance (potassium nitrate) used in making gunpowder, fertilizers, and as a food preservative.
- Farmers sometimes use niter as a natural source of nitrogen for their crops.
- In the past, niter was mined from caves and used to preserve meat.
- The old recipe for gunpowder required sulfur, charcoal, and niter.
Synonyms