cyanide

[ sahy-uh-nahyd, -nid ]

noun

1. Also cy·a·nid [] Chemistry.
   1. a salt of hydrocyanic acid, as potassium cyanide, KCN.
   2. a nitrile, as methyl cyanide, C 2 H 3 N.

verb (used with object)

, cy·a·nid·ed, cy·a·nid·ing.

1. to treat with a cyanide, as an ore in order to extract gold.

cyanide

/ ˈsaɪəˌnaɪd; ˈsaɪənɪd /

noun

1. any salt of hydrocyanic acid. Cyanides contain the ion CN ^–and are extremely poisonous
2. another name (not in technical usage) for nitrile

cyanide

/ sī′ə-nīd′ /

1. Any of a large group of chemical compounds containing the radical CN, especially the very poisonous salts sodium cyanide and potassium cyanide. Cyanides are used to make plastics and to extract and treat metals.

Derived Forms

• ˌcyaniˈdation, noun

Other Words From

• sub·cya·nid noun
• sub·cya·nide noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cyanide¹

1820–30; cyan- ³ + -ide ( def )

Example Sentences

Some were injected with cyanide involuntarily, including hundreds of children and senior citizens.

From Time

Cassava flour, which has been dried and pounded, has lost almost all of its cyanide content by the time it’s sold.

From Eater

At least 50 percent of the root’s cyanide content is removed by boiling, and further reduced by other cooking methods like frying and baking.

From Eater

Environmental groups are calling the “restoration” aspect of the plan fool’s gold, and also oppose the company’s intent to use cyanide to extract gold from the site at Salmon River, where there was a gold rush in the late 1800s.

From Ozy

For example, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide — two chemicals linked to cancer and other health problems — are abundant in wildfire smoke.

From Science News

Nonetheless, Turing killed himself on June 7, 1954, in a deliberately prepared way, by eating a cyanide-laced apple.

From The Daily Beast

An autopsy found highly toxic cyanide levels in the blood of the not-so-dearly departed.

From The Daily Beast

He opted for the latter, and two years later, took his own life by ingesting cyanide.

From The Daily Beast

Two years later, at the age of 41, the war hero ended his own life with cyanide.

From The Daily Beast

Zyklon B, a gas used by the Nazis in the death camps, is a haunting example of the rapid lethality of one form, hydrogen cyanide.

From The Daily Beast

On addition of potassium cyanide a transitory red color appeared which reappeared on shaking with air.

From Project Gutenberg

A portion was gently warmed with a few drops of a strong solution of potassium cyanide and two drops of sodium hydroxide.

From Project Gutenberg

To cleanse articles of silver, gold, bronze and brass use a saturated solution of cyanide of potassium.

From Project Gutenberg

As cyanide of potassium is a deadly poison, care must be taken not to have it touch any sore spot on the flesh.

From Project Gutenberg

Mercuric cyanide, as we have seen (p. 115), is exceptional in its exceedingly small capacity for ionization.

From Project Gutenberg