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carbolic acid

British  
/ kɑːˈbɒlɪk /

noun

  1. another name for phenol, esp when it is used as an antiseptic or disinfectant

"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

carbolic acid Scientific  
/ kär-bŏlĭk /
  1. See phenol


Etymology

Origin of carbolic acid

C19: carbolic, from carbo- + -ol 1 + -ic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The smell was dubbed the Great Stink, and carbolic acid, another disinfectant, was poured into the river to alleviate the problem.

From Textbooks Dec. 14, 2022

Starting with Chinatown, earthen basements were concreted, concrete ones flooded with carbolic acid, walls washed with lye, streets asphalted, cesspools filled and decrepit dwellings demolished.

From Nature Apr. 23, 2019

Blue’s team treated houses and streets with chlorinated lime and carbolic acid; took down dilapidated buildings and ramshackle housing additions; and trapped and poisoned rats.

From Slate Oct. 15, 2015

Joseph Lister’s experiments applying carbolic acid to wounds also helped reduce death rates.

From The Guardian May 18, 2015

Lister recommended that doctors put a diluted carbolic acid solution on wounds after injury or surgery and also soak bandages and dressings in the chemical.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow

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