cyanide

noun

cy·​a·​nide ˈsī-ə-ˌnīd 

-nəd

1

: a compound of cyanogen with a more electropositive element or group: such as

a

: potassium cyanide

b

: sodium cyanide

2

: cyanogen sense 1

Examples of cyanide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But the county coroner later attributed it to a combination of cyanide and tetrahydrozoline. —Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 30 Nov. 2024

Traces of cyanide were found in the victim's body and her money, phone and bags were missing, the BBC reported, citing police. —Becca Longmire, People.com, 21 Nov. 2024

In June, a spill at a mine owned by the Canadian company Victoria Gold contaminated a Yukon watershed with 2 million tonnes of material contaminated with cyanide, forcing the closure of the mine and leaving taxpayers with $111 million in restoration costs. —Greg McKenna, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2024

Their case alleged that thousands of gallons of water runoff from the system, containing pollutants like cyanide, copper, and chromium, have spilled into sensitive local waterways, according to government documents obtained by NPR. —Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cyanide

• hydrogen cyanide
• potassium cyanide
• sodium cyanide

Kids Definition

cyanide

noun

cy·​a·​nide ˈsī-ə-ˌnīd 

-nəd

: a very poisonous compound consisting of carbon and nitrogen with either sodium or potassium

Medical Definition

cyanide

noun

cy·​a·​nide ˈsī-ə-ˌnīd, -nəd 

: any of several compounds (as potassium cyanide) that contain the radical CN having a chemical valence of one, react with and inactivate respiratory enzymes, and are rapidly lethal producing drowsiness, tachycardia, coma, and finally death