Carbolic acid

noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    phenol (C₆H₅OH) dated, uncountable
  2. 2
    a toxic white soluble crystalline acidic derivative of benzene; used in manufacturing and as a disinfectant and antiseptic; poisonous if taken internally wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
acidalcoholantisepticarsenicddtdisinfectant

Etymology

Partial calque of German Carbolsäure (modern German Karbolsäure), which was coined in 1834 by its discoverer Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge.

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