polychlorinated biphenyl

[ pol-ee-klawr-uh-ney-tid bahy-fen-l, ‐-feen-l ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. PCB ( def 1 ).

polychlorinated biphenyl

/ ˌpɒlɪˈklɔːrɪˌneɪtɪd /

noun

1. any of a group of compounds in which chlorine atoms replace the hydrogen atoms in biphenyl: used in industry in electrical insulators and in the manufacture of plastics; a toxic pollutant that can become concentrated in animal tissue PCB

polychlorinated biphenyl

/ pŏl′ē-klôr′ə-nā′tĭd /

1. See PCB

Word History and Origins

Origin of polychlorinated biphenyl¹

First recorded in 1960–65; poly- + chlorinated ( def )