phenolic

Variant of phenol

phenol definition

phe·nol (fē′nōl′, -nôl′, -näl′)

noun

  1. a white crystalline compound, CHOH, produced from coal tar or by the hydrolysis of chlorobenzene, and used in making explosives, synthetic resins, etc.: it is a strong, corrosive poison with a characteristic odor, and its dilute aqueous solution, commonly called carbolic acid, is used as an antiseptic, disinfectant, etc.
  2. any of a group of aromatic hydroxyl derivatives of benzene, similar in structure and composition to phenol

Etymology: phen- + -ol

Related Forms:

  • phenolic phe·no·lic (fē nō′lik; -nôl′ik; -näl′-) adjective

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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