[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

phenol \phe"nol\ f=e"n=ol; 277, n. gr. fai`nein to show +
   -ol: cf. f. ph'enol. chem.
   1. a white or pinkish crystalline substance, c6h5oh,
      produced by the destructive distillation of many organic
      bodies, as wood, coal, etc., and obtained from the heavy
      oil from coal tar.
      1913 webster

   note: it has a peculiar odor, somewhat resembling creosote,
         which is a complex mixture of phenol derivatives. it is
         of the type of alcohols, and is called also phenyl
         alcohol, but has acid properties, and hence is
         popularly called carbolic acid, and was formerly
         called phenic acid. it is a powerful caustic poison,
         and in dilute solution has been used as an antiseptic.
         1913 webster

   2. any one of the series of hydroxyl derivatives of which
      phenol proper is the type.
      1913 webster

   glacial phenol chem., pure crystallized phenol or
      carbolic acid.

   phenol acid chem., any one of a series of compounds which
      are at once a derivative of phenol and an organic acid;
      thus, salicylic acid is a phenol acid.

   phenol alcohol chem., any one of series of derivatives of
      phenol and carbinol which have the properties of both
      combined; thus, saligenin is a phenol alcohol.

   phenol aldehyde chem., any one of a series of compounds
      having both phenol and aldehyde properties.

   phenol phthalein. see phenolphthalein.
      1913 webster
see also:
c6h5oh phenyl alcohol carbolic acid phenic acid glacial phenol phenol acid 
salicylic acid phenol alcohol saligenin phenol aldehyde phenol phthalein 
phenolphthalein 

[2] : WordNet (r) 2.0

phenol
     n 1: any of a class of weakly acidic organic compounds; molecule
          contains one or more hydroxyl groups
     2: a toxic white soluble crystalline acidic derivative of
        benzene; used in manufacturing and as a disinfectant and
        antiseptic; poisonous if taken internally syn: carbolic
        acid, hydroxybenzene, oxybenzene, phenylic acid
see also:
carbolic acid hydroxybenzene oxybenzene phenylic acid 

Phenol >> P Words
Phenol, definition of term: Phenol
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