Wiktionary

chemical

EnglishEdit

EtymologyEdit

chemic (“alchemy”) +‎ -al (“related to”)

PronunciationEdit

  • enPR: kĕm'ĭk-əl, IPA(key): /ˈkɛmɪkəl/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Audio (UK)(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɛmɪkəl

AdjectiveEdit

chemical (not comparable)

  1. Of or relating to chemistry.
    chemical experiments
    the chemical properties of iron
    Pentalene has chemical formula C8H6
  2. Of or relating to a material or processes not commonly found in nature or in a particular product.
  3. (obsolete) Of or relating to alchemy.

TranslationsEdit

Further readingEdit

NounEdit

chemical (plural chemicals)

  1. (chemistry, sciences) Any specific chemical element or chemical compound or alloy.
    Hydrogen and sulphur are both chemicals.
  2. (colloquial) An artificial chemical compound.
    I color my hair with henna, not chemicals.
  3. (slang) An addictive drug.

Usage notesEdit

  • The noun is frequently used in a slang and more specific non-technical way (2nd and 3rd definition) by the general public. Chemists and those who understand chemistry may gravitate toward the first, but the term "substance" is preferred usage.

TranslationsEdit

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Translations to be checked

Derived termsEdit

terms derived from chemical (adjective and noun)

Related termsEdit

See alsoEdit

AnagramsEdit

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