dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

[ dahy-klawr-oh-fi-nok-see-uh-see-tik, -uh-set-ik, dahy-klohr-, dahy-klawr-oh-fi-nok-, dahy-klohr- ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a white to yellow, crystalline powder, C 8 H 6 O 3 Cl 2 , slightly soluble in water: used for killing weeds.

Word History and Origins

Origin of dichlorophenoxyacetic acid¹

di- ¹ + chloro- ² + phen(o)- + oxy- ² + acetic acid