noun
Uncommon
cyanide
SEYE-uh-nyd
Cyanide (noun) means any of a group of highly toxic chemical compounds containing a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom. Example: “Cyanide compounds are used in some industrial processes despite their extreme toxicity.”
noun
1
Any of a group of highly toxic chemical compounds containing a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom.
"Cyanide compounds are used in some industrial processes despite their extreme toxicity."
2
Sodium or potassium cyanide, a fast-acting poison, or hydrogen cyanide gas.
"The detective suspected cyanide poisoning as the cause of death."
verb
1
To treat, extract, or kill using cyanide.
"Miners once cyanided ore to separate out traces of gold."
How to use cyanide
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA highly poisonous chemical, famous as a deadly poison but also used industrially, notably in gold extraction.
Common pairings
cyanide poisoning
potassium cyanide
cyanide gas
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Word forms
- Plural
- cyanides
- Third person singular
- cyanides
- Past tense
- cyanided
Fill the gap
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_____ compounds are used in some industrial processes despite their extreme toxicity.
Etymology
From cyan- (referring to the blue pigment Prussian blue, in which the compound was first identified) plus the chemical suffix -ide.
Synonyms
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nitril
nitrile
Related words
Rhymes for cyanide
See all rhymes for cyanide →Frequently asked questions
What does “cyanide” mean?
The word “cyanide” means any of a group of highly toxic chemical compounds containing a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom. In plain terms, a highly poisonous chemical, famous as a deadly poison but also used industrially, notably in gold extraction.
How do you pronounce “cyanide”?
“Cyanide” is pronounced SEYE-uh-nyd (/ˈsaɪənaɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “cyanide” in a sentence?
Here is “cyanide” used in a sentence: “Cyanide compounds are used in some industrial processes despite their extreme toxicity.”
What part of speech is “cyanide”?
Depending on how it is used, “cyanide” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “cyanide” come from?
The word “cyanide” comes from Russian. From cyan- (referring to the blue pigment Prussian blue, in which the compound was first identified) plus the chemical suffix -ide.
Is “cyanide” a common word?
“Cyanide” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cyanide” have?
“Cyanide” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: any of a group of highly toxic chemical compounds containing a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom.
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