phe·nol (f  nôl , -n l, -n l)n. 1. A caustic, poisonous, white crystalline compound, C6H5OH, derived from benzene and used in resins, plastics, and pharmaceuticals and in dilute form as a disinfectant and antiseptic. Also called carbolic acid. 2. Any of a class of aromatic organic compounds having at least one hydroxyl group attached directly to the benzene ring. |
phenol [ˈfiːnɒl]
n
1. (Chemistry / Elements & Compounds) Also called carbolic acid a white crystalline soluble poisonous acidic derivative of benzene, used as an antiseptic and disinfectant and in the manufacture of resins, nylon, dyes, explosives, and pharmaceuticals; hydroxybenzene. Formula: C6H5OH
2. (Chemistry / Elements & Compounds) Chem any of a class of weakly acidic organic compounds whose molecules contain one or more hydroxyl groups bound directly to a carbon atom in an aromatic ring
| phenol (fnôl, -nl) 1. Any of a class of organic compounds that contain a hydroxyl group (OH) attached to a carbon atom that is part of an aromatic ring. Phenols are similar to alcohols but are more soluble in water, and occur as colorless solids or liquids at room temperature. Some phenols occur naturally in the essential oils of plants. Phenols are used in industry to make plastics and detergents. 2. The simplest phenol, consisting of a benzene ring attached to a hydroxyl group (OH). It is a poisonous, white, crystalline compound and is used to make plastics and drugs. Also called carbolic acid. Chemical formula: C6H6O. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  phenol - any of a class of weakly acidic organic compounds; molecule contains one or more hydroxyl groupspyrogallic acid, pyrogallol - a toxic white lustrous crystalline phenol used to treat certain skin diseases and as a photographic developer organic compound - any compound of carbon and another element or a radical creosol - a colorless to yellow aromatic liquid that is a constituent of creosote cresol, methyl phenol - any of three poisonous colorless isomeric phenols; derived from coal or wood tar; used as a disinfectant naphthol - either of two phenols derived from naphthalene resorcinol - a crystalline phenol obtained from various resins; used in ointments for acne and in dandruff shampoos tannic acid, tannin - any of various complex phenolic substances of plant origin; used in tanning and in medicine thyme camphor, thymic acid, thymol - a colorless crystalline solid used in perfume or preserving biological specimens or in embalming or medically as a fungicide or antiseptic |
| 2. | phenol - a toxic white soluble crystalline acidic derivative of benzene; used in manufacturing and as a disinfectant and antiseptic; poisonous if taken internally acid - any of various water-soluble compounds having a sour taste and capable of turning litmus red and reacting with a base to form a salt dissolvent, dissolver, dissolving agent, resolvent, solvent - a liquid substance capable of dissolving other substances; "the solvent does not change its state in forming a solution" |
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