phenol

[fee-nawl, -nol]

noun Chemistry.

Also called carbolic acid, hydroxybenzene, oxybenzene, phenylic acid. a white, crystalline, water-soluble, poisonous mass, C6H5OH, obtained from coal tar, or a hydroxyl derivative of benzene: used chiefly as a disinfectant, as an antiseptic, and in organic synthesis.

any analogous hydroxyl derivative of benzene.

Origin of phenol

First recorded in 1850–55; phen- + -ol¹

Related formsphe·no·lic

[fi-noh-lik, -nol-ik] /fɪˈnoʊ lɪk, -ˈnɒl ɪk/, adjectivenon·phe·no·lic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for phenol

Historical Examples of phenol

That's what my inventor smelled; there never was any phenol in the test tube.
The Professional Approach
Charles Leonard Harness
Phenol, better known as carbolic acid, finds a use as a developer.
The Dyeing of Cotton Fabrics
Franklin Beech
Among these aromatic substances are indol, phenol, and skatol.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis
James Campbell Todd
It is difficult to see how phenol could possibly have such action.
The Propaganda for Reform in Proprietary Medicines, Vol. 2 of 2
Various
Iocamfen is a liquid composed of iodine, camphor and phenol.
The Propaganda for Reform in Proprietary Medicines, Vol. 2 of 2
Various

British Dictionary definitions for phenol

phenol

noun

Also called: carbolic acid a white crystalline soluble poisonous acidic derivative of benzene, used as an antiseptic and disinfectant and in the manufacture of resins, nylon, dyes, explosives, and pharmaceuticals; hydroxybenzene. Formula: C 6 H 5 OH

chem any of a class of weakly acidic organic compounds whose molecules contain one or more hydroxyl groups bound directly to a carbon atom in an aromatic ring

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

Word Origin and History for phenol

"carbolic acid," 1844, from pheno- + -ol. Discovered in coal tar in 1834; used as an antiseptic from 1867. Related: Phenolic.

phenol in Medicine

phenol

[fē′nôl′, -nōl′]

n.

A caustic, poisonous, white crystalline compound derived from benzene and used in pharmaceuticals and in dilute form as an antiseptic.carbolic acid phenic acid

Any of a class of aromatic organic compounds having at least one hydroxyl group attached directly to the benzene ring.

phenol in Science

phenol

[fē′nôl′, -nōl′]

Any of a class of organic compounds that contain a hydroxyl group (OH) attached to a carbon atom that is part of an aromatic ring. Phenols are similar to alcohols but are more soluble in water, and occur as colorless solids or liquids at room temperature. Some phenols occur naturally in the essential oils of plants. Phenols are used in industry to make plastics and detergents.

The simplest phenol, consisting of a benzene ring attached to a hydroxyl group (OH). It is a poisonous, white, crystalline compound and is used to make plastics and drugs. Also called carbolic acid. Chemical formula: C6H6O.