chemical

[ kem-i-kuhl ]
See synonyms for chemical on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a substance produced by or used in a chemical process.

  2. chemicals, Slang. narcotic or mind-altering drugs or substances.

adjective
  1. of, used in, produced by, or concerned with chemistry or chemicals: a chemical formula; chemical agents.

  2. used in chemical warfare: chemical weapons.

Origin of chemical

1
1570–80; chemic + -al1; replacing chimical chemic

Other words from chemical

  • chem·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • non·chem·i·cal, adjective, noun
  • pre·chem·i·cal, adjective
  • pseu·do·chem·i·cal, adjective
  • sem·i·chem·i·cal, adjective
  • sem·i·chem·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • su·per·chem·i·cal, adjective, noun
  • su·per·chem·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • un·chem·i·cal, adjective
  • un·chem·i·cal·ly, adverb

Words Nearby chemical

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use chemical in a sentence

  • Its chemical composition is unknown, but it is nitrogenous, and is believed to be produced by the decomposition of gluten.

  • It has been obtained for chemical examination, principally from peas and beans, and from the almond and oats.

  • Of its more strictly chemical effects, the most important is probably that which it produces on the temperature of the soil.

  • No sooner was the spectroscope invented than astronomers hastened by its aid to explore the chemical constitution of the sun.

    Outlines of the Earth's History | Nathaniel Southgate Shaler
  • It is likely that in the classic days of Greece men began to make simple experiments of a chemical nature.

    Outlines of the Earth's History | Nathaniel Southgate Shaler

British Dictionary definitions for chemical

chemical

/ (ˈkɛmɪkəl) /


noun
  1. any substance used in or resulting from a reaction involving changes to atoms or molecules, especially one derived artificially for practical use

adjective
  1. of or used in chemistry: chemical balance

  2. of, made from, or using chemicals: chemical fertilizer

Derived forms of chemical

  • chemically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for chemical

chemical

[ kĕmĭ-kəl ]


Adjective
  1. Relating to or produced by means of chemistry.

Noun
  1. A substance having a specific molecular composition, obtained by or used in a chemical process.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.