a white, crystalline, water-soluble solid, C7H8O2, sweet but unpleasant in taste, that reddens on exposure to air: obtained from many lichens or produced synthetically and used chiefly as a reagent for certain carbohydrates.
Main Entry: or·cin·ol Pronunciation: 'or-s&-"nol, -"nOl Function: noun : a crystalline dihydroxy phenolCH3C6H3(OH)2 obtained from various lichens that is used as an analytical reagent