hydrocyanic acid

noun

a colorless, highly poisonous liquid, HCN, an aqueous solution of hydrogen cyanide.
Also called prussic acid.

Origin of hydrocyanic acid

First recorded in 1810–20

Words nearby hydrocyanic acid

Hydrocortone, hydrocrack, hydrocracker, hydrocracking, hydrocyanic, hydrocyanic acid, hydrocyst, hydrodesulfurization, HydroDiuril, hydrodynamic, hydrodynamicist
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for hydrocyanic acid

  • Gabriel jerked up his revolver, as he ran, the terrible weapon shooting bullets charged with hydrocyanic-acid gas.

    The Air Trust|George Allan England

  • Hydrocyanic-acid gas is effective in destroying all animal life in buildings.

    House Rats and Mice|David E. Lantz

British Dictionary definitions for hydrocyanic acid

hydrocyanic acid
/ (ˌhaɪdrəʊsaɪˈænɪk) /

noun

another name for hydrogen cyanide, esp when in aqueous solution
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

Medical definitions for hydrocyanic acid

hydrocyanic acid
[ hī′drō-sī-ăn′ĭk ]

n.

An aqueous solution of hydrogen cyanide that is a poisonous weak acid.prussic acid
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for hydrocyanic acid

hydrocyanic acid
[ hī′drō-sī-ăn′ĭk ]

An aqueous solution of hydrogen cyanide, having a characteristic smell of bitter almonds. Also called prussic acid
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.