formic
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or derived from ants
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of, containing, or derived from formic acid
Etymology
Origin of formic
1785–95; irregular < Latin formīca ant. Cf. French formique
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.
As the body attempts to clear methanol - breaking it down or metabolising it in the liver - an enzyme converts it to formaldehyde and formic acid.
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
Under these conditions, the new system continued to generate substantial amounts of formic acid, while other technologies produced very little.
From Science Daily ● Jan. 29, 2026
They open the infected pupa's cocoon, create small cuts in its outer surface, and apply formic acid, a natural antimicrobial compound produced by the workers themselves.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 3, 2025
This metabolism creates toxic by-products called formaldehyde, formate and formic acid.
From BBC ● Nov. 22, 2024
From this formic aldehyde, or formol, we may obtain all the various carbohydrates by simple polymerization, i.e. by the association of several molecules, with or without elimination of water.
From The Mechanism of Life by Leduc, Stéphane
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
