arsenic

[ noun ahr-suh-nik, ahrs-nik; adjective ahr-sen-ik ]

noun
  1. a grayish-white element having a metallic luster, vaporizing when heated, and forming poisonous compounds. Symbol: As; atomic weight: 74.92; atomic number: 33.

  1. a mineral, the native element, occurring in white or gray masses.

adjectivear·sen·ic [ahr-sen-ik] /ɑrˈsɛn ɪk/
  1. of or containing arsenic, especially in the pentavalent state.

Origin of arsenic

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English arsenicum, from Latin, from Greek arsenikón “orpiment” (a mineral), noun use of neuter of arsenikós “virile” (from ársēn “male, strong” + -ikos -ic), probably alteration by folk etymology of a Semitic word such as Syriac zarnīkā “orpiment,” from Middle Persian (compare Persian zargūn “gold-colored”; see jargon2)

Other words from arsenic

  • non·ar·sen·ic, adjective

Words Nearby arsenic

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How to use arsenic in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for arsenic

arsenic

noun(ˈɑːsnɪk)
  1. a toxic metalloid element, existing in several allotropic forms, that occurs principally in realgar and orpiment and as the free element. It is used in transistors, lead-based alloys, and high-temperature brasses. Symbol: As; atomic no: 33; atomic wt: 74.92159; valency: –3, 0, +3, or +5; relative density: 5.73 (grey); melting pt: 817°C at a pressure of 3MN/m² (grey); sublimes at 613°C (grey)

  2. a nontechnical name for arsenic trioxide

adjective(ɑːˈsɛnɪk)
  1. of or containing arsenic, esp in the pentavalent state

Origin of arsenic

1
C14: from Latin arsenicum, from Greek arsenikon yellow orpiment, from Syriac zarnīg (influenced in form by Greek arsenikos virile)

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 arsenic

arsenic

[ ärsə-nĭk ]


As
  1. A metalloid element most commonly occurring as a gray crystal, but also found as a yellow crystal and in other forms. Arsenic and its compounds are highly poisonous and are used to make insecticides, weed killers, and various alloys. Atomic number 33; atomic weight 74.922; valence 3, 5. Gray arsenic melts at 817°C (at 28 atm pressure), sublimes at 613°C, and has a specific gravity of 5.73. See Periodic Table.

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