pentachlorophenol

[ pen-tuh-klawr-uh-fee-nawl, -nol, -klohr- ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a white, crystalline, water-insoluble powder, C 6 Cl 5 OH, used chiefly in fungicides, disinfectants, and wood preservatives.

pentachlorophenol

/ ˌpɛntəˌklɔːrəˈfiːnɒl /

noun

1. a white crystalline water-insoluble compound used as a fungicide, herbicide, and preservative for wood. Formula: C 6 Cl 5 OH

Word History and Origins

Origin of pentachlorophenol¹

First recorded in 1875–80; penta- + chloro- ² + phenol