carboxylic
1 synonym for carboxylic, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Relating to the carboxyl group in organic chemistry.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
carboxyl
How to use carboxylic
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
carboxylic acid
carboxylic group
carboxylic acid group
This is a technical chemistry term, not used in everyday speech.
Etymology
The word is built within English from carboxyl, the chemical group it describes, plus the adjective-forming ending -ic.
Full origin of carboxylic →Frequently asked questions
What does carboxylic mean?
It describes something related to the carboxyl group, a functional group found in organic chemistry.
What is a carboxylic acid?
It is an organic acid that contains a carboxyl group, such as the acetic acid found in vinegar.
Is carboxylic a noun or an adjective?
It is an adjective, always used to describe another word such as acid or group.
