anacardic acid

noun

an·​a·​car·​dic acid
¦anə¦kärdik-
: a brown crystalline vesicant phenolic acid found as the principal constituent of cashew nutshell liquid, held to consist of a mixture of unsaturated derivatives of salicylic acid, and converted to cardanol by decarboxylation

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary anacardic (from New Latin Anacardium + International Scientific Vocabulary -ic) + acid; originally formed as German anakardsäure

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of anacardic acid was in 1848

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near anacardic acid

Cite this Entry

“Anacardic acid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anacardic%20acid. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!