cyanide

cy·a·nide

noun \ˈsī-ə-ˌnīd, -nəd\

Definition of CYANIDE

1

: a compound of cyanogen with a more electropositive element or group: as

a : potassium cyanide

b : sodium cyanide

2

: cyanogen 1

Origin of CYANIDE

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use: 1826

Rhymes with CYANIDE

Akenside, algicide, alkoxide, almond-eyed, alongside, Argus-eyed, bleary-eyed, bona fide, Christmastide, citified, citywide, classified, coincide, corporate-wide, countrified, countryside, countrywide, cut-and-dried, deicide, demand-side, dignified, dioxide, double-wide, eagle-eyed, Eastertide, ecocide, eventide, far and wide, feticide, formamide, fratricide, freedom ride, fungicide, genocide, germicide, gimlet-eyed, glassy-eyed, goggle-eyed, googly-eyed, gospel side, great divide, harborside, herbicide, homicide, honeyguide, humified, matricide, Merseyside, misty-eyed, miticide, monoxide, mountainside, nationwide, Naugahyde, Oceanside, on the side, open-eyed, override, overstride, parricide, Passiontide, patricide, pesticide, planetwide, qualified, rarefied, raticide, regicide, riverside, Riverside, set-aside, side by side, silverside, sissified, slickenside, spermicide, starry-eyed, subdivide, suicide, supply-side, trisulfide, underside, verbicide, vermicide, viricide, waterside, Whitsuntide, wintertide

cy·a·nide

noun \ˈsī-ə-ˌnīd, -nəd\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of CYANIDE

: any of several compounds (as potassium cyanide) that contain the radical CN having a chemical valence of one, react with and inactivate respiratory enzymes, and are rapidly lethal producing drowsiness, tachycardia, coma, and finally death

cyanide

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any chemical compound containing the combining group CN. Ionic (see ion; ionic bond) and organic cyanide compounds differ in chemical properties, but both are toxic, especially the ionic ones. Cyanide poisoning inhibits cells' oxidative (see oxidation-reduction) processes; its action is extremely rapid, and an antidote must be given promptly. Cyanides occur naturally in certain seeds (e.g., apple seeds, wild cherry pits). Cyanides, including hydrogen cyanide (HCN, or hydrocyanic acid), are used industrially in the production of acrylic fibres, synthetic rubbers, and plastics as well as in electroplating, case-hardening of iron and steel, fumigation, and concentration of ores.