'Carbolic acid' definitions:

Definition of 'carbolic acid'

(from WordNet)
noun
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, phenol, hydroxybenzene, oxybenzene, phenylic acid]

Definition of 'Carbolic acid'

From: GCIDE
  • Carbolic acid \Car*bol"ic ac"id\ (k[aum]r*b[o^]l"[i^]k [a^]s"[i^]d), n. [L. carbo coal + oleum oil.] (Chem.) same as phenol[1], (C6H5.OH). See phenol[1].
  • Syn: phenol[1], hydroxybenzene, phenyl hydroxide, phenic acid. [PJC]

Definition of 'carbolic acid'

From: GCIDE
  • Phenol \Phe"nol\ (f[=e]"n[=o]l; 277), n. [Gr. fai`nein to show + -ol: cf. F. ph['e]nol.] (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]