chemical
English meaning: Chemical
Definition
Any specific chemical element or chemical compound or alloy.
Example
“Some cleaning chemicals are dangerous if mixed together.”
Another example: “A sudden chemical reaction caused the mixture to change colour.”
Usage — When, Where & How
A noun (and adjective) for a substance, especially one made or used in chemistry, industry or the home ('household chemicals'). As an adjective, 'chemical reaction', 'chemical weapons'. Technical to general register.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From 'chemic/alchemy', ultimately from Arabic 'al-kimiya', the suffix '-al' forming the adjective and noun in the 16th–17th centuries.
Synonyms
- compound
- substance
- reagent
- agent
Related Words
Common Collocations
- chemical reaction
- household chemicals
- toxic chemicals
- chemical weapons
- chemical compound
- industrial chemicals
Word Forms
chemical (n); chemicals (pl); chemical (adj); chemically (adv)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B