Webster's English Dictionary

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phenol

phe.nol \'fe--.no-l, fi-'\ \fi-'no--lik, -'na:l-ik\ n [ISV phen- + -ol] 1: 
   a caustic poisonous crystalline acidic compound C6H5OH prese nt in coal tar 
   and wood tar that in dilute solution is used as a disinfectant 2: any of 
   various acidic compounds analogous to phenol and regarded as hydr oxyl 
   derivatives of aromatic hydrocarbons - phe.no.lic aj