heterocyclic

[ het-er-uh-sahy-klik, -sik-lik ]

adjectiveChemistry.
  1. of or relating to the branch of chemistry dealing with cyclic compounds in which at least one of the ring members is not a carbon atom (contrasted with homocyclic).

  2. noting such compounds, as ethylene oxide, C2H4O.

Origin of heterocyclic

1
First recorded in 1895–1900; hetero- + cyclic

Other words from heterocyclic

  • het·er·o·cy·cle [het-er-uh-sahy-kuhl], /ˈhɛt ər əˌsaɪ kəl/, noun

Words Nearby heterocyclic

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How to use heterocyclic in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for heterocyclic

heterocyclic

/ (ˌhɛtərəʊˈsaɪklɪk, -ˈsɪk-) /


adjective
  1. (of an organic compound) containing a closed ring of atoms, at least one of which is not a carbon atom: Compare homocyclic

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 heterocyclic

heterocyclic

[ hĕt′ə-rō-sīklĭk, -sĭklĭk ]


  1. Of or relating to a compound containing a closed ring structure made of more than one kind of atom. Pyridine (C5H5N), for example, is a heterocyclic compound, as its ring contains five carbon atoms and one nitrogen atom. Compare homocyclic.

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