cyanide

cy-a-nide · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A highly toxic chemical compound containing a carbon-nitrogen group (CN), especially potassium cyanide or hydrogen cyanide.

  2. 2.

    Any salt or ester of hydrocyanic acid.

Forms

plural: cyanides

Related words

See also: chemical, poison, toxic
Synonyms: poison, toxin

Etymology

From French cyanure, derived from Greek kyanos meaning "dark blue" (referring to Prussian blue, from which cyanide was first isolated) combined with the chemical suffix -ide. First used in English in the early 19th century.