Main Entry:

phe·nol

Pronunciation:

\ˈfē-ˌnōl, -ˌnȯl, fi-ˈ\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

International Scientific Vocabulary phen- + ³-ol

Date:

circa 1852

1 : a corrosive poisonous crystalline acidic compound C₆H₅OH present in the tars of coal and wood that in dilute solution is used as a disinfectant 2 : any of various acidic compounds analogous to phenol and regarded as hydroxyl derivatives of aromatic hydrocarbons