salicylic acid
noun Chemistry, Pharmacology.
a white, crystalline, very slightly water-soluble powder, C7H6O3, prepared from salicin or phenol: used as a food preservative, in the manufacture of aspirin, and in medicine chiefly in the form of a salicylate as a remedy for rheumatic and gouty conditions.
Nearby words
salicornia, salicylaldehyde, salicylamide, salicylate, salicylic, salicylic acid, salicylism, salience, saliency, salient, salientian
Origin of salicylic acid
First recorded in 1830–40
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British Dictionary definitions for salicylic acid
salicylic acid
/ (ˌsælɪˈsɪlɪk) /
noun
a white crystalline slightly water-soluble substance with a sweet taste and bitter aftertaste, used in the manufacture of aspirin, dyes, and perfumes, and as a fungicide. Formula: C 6 H 4 (OH)(COOH)
Word Origin for salicylic acid
C19: from salicyl (via French from Latin salix a willow + -yl) + -ic
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Medicine definitions for salicylic acid
salicylic acid
[ săl′ĭ-sĭl′ĭk ]
n.
A white crystalline acid used in making aspirin and in the topical treatment of skin conditions such as eczema.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for salicylic acid
salicylic acid
[ săl′ĭ-sĭl′ĭk ]
A white, crystalline acid used to make aspirin, to treat certain skin conditions, and to preserve and flavor foods. Salicylic acid is benzoic acid with a hydroxyl group (OH) attached to the carboxyl group (COOH). Chemical formula: C7H6O3.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.