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ammoniac definition

am·mo·niac (ə mō′nē ak′)

noun

a pungent gum resin obtained from the stems of certain plants (esp. Dorema ammoniacum) of the umbel family, found in Iran, S Siberia, and N India: used in perfumes, porcelain cements, and formerly in medicine

Etymology: ME ammoniak < ML armoniac < L ammoniacum < Gr ammōniakon, gum resin: orig., prob. from its occurrence in plants growing near the temple of Jupiter Ammon in Egypt

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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