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cyanide

 - 5 dictionary results

cy⋅a⋅nide

  [sahy-uh-nahyd, -nid] noun, verb, -nid⋅ed, -nid⋅ing.
Use cyanide in a Sentence
–noun
1. Also, cy⋅a⋅nid  [sahy-uh-nid] . Chemistry.
a. a salt of hydrocyanic acid, as potassium cyanide, KCN.
b. a nitrile, as methyl cyanide, C2H3N.
–verb (used with object)
2. to treat with a cyanide, as an ore in order to extract gold.
Origin:
1820–30; cyan- 3 + -ide
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To cyanide
cy·a·nide   (sī'ə-nīd')   
n.   also cy·a·nid (-nĭd)
Any of various salts or esters of hydrogen cyanide containing a CN group, especially the extremely poisonous compounds potassium cyanide and sodium cyanide.
tr.v.   cy·a·nid·ed, cy·a·nid·ing, cy·a·nides

  1. To treat (a metal surface) with cyanide to produce a hard surface.

  2. To treat (an ore) with cyanide to extract gold or silver.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

cyanide 
1826, coined from cyan-, comb. form for carbon and nitrogen compounds, from Gk. kyanos "dark blue enamel, lapis lazuli" (probably a non-IE word) + chemical ending -ide. So called because it first had been obtained by heating the dye pigment powder known as Prussian blue (see Prussian).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: cy·a·nide
Pronunciation: 'sI-&-"nId, -n&d
Function: noun
: any of several compounds (as potassium cyanide) that contain theradical CN having a chemical valence of one, react with and inactivate respiratory enzymes, and are rapidly lethal producing drowsiness, tachycardia, coma, and finally death
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

cyanide cy·a·nide (sī'ə-nīd') or cy·a·nid (-nĭd)
n.
Any of various salts or esters of hydrogen cyanide containing a CN group, especially the extremely poisonous compounds potassium cyanide and sodium cyanide.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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