cyanide

American  

[sahy-uh-nahyd, -nid] / ˈsaɪ əˌnaɪd, -nɪd /

noun

1. Chemistry. Also cyanid

   1. a salt of hydrocyanic acid, as potassium cyanide, KCN.

   2. a nitrile, as methyl cyanide, C 2 H 3 N.

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verb (used with object)

cyanided, cyaniding

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

cyanide British  

/ 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

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cyanide Scientific  

/ 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.

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Other Word Forms

• cyanidation noun
• subcyanid noun
• subcyanide noun

Etymology

Origin of cyanide

1820–30; cyan- ³ + -ide ( def. )

Example Sentences

Philippine Navy spokesman Rear Adm Roy Vincent Trinidad said Filipino troops had seized 10 bottles of cyanide from sampan boats allegedly launched from Chinese fishing vessels in February, July and October last year.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

Four of the offences included discharging higher-than-permitted levels of cyanide into the Manchester Ship Canal, a nearby river and a local brook.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

In this reaction, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, and aldehydes or ketones combine in liquid water.

From Science Daily • Feb. 12, 2026

In their simulations, the team modeled a stable hydrogen cyanide crystal shaped like a long cylinder about 450 nanometers in length.

From Science Daily • Jan. 16, 2026

It followed therefore that any cyanide in the drink must have been put there by Anthony Marston himself.

From "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie