Definitions for salicylic acidˌsæl əˈsɪl ɪk
Random House Webster's College Dictionary
sal′i•cyl′ic ac′idˌsæl əˈsɪl ɪk(n.)
a white crystalline substance, C7H6O3, prepared from salicin or phenol: used as a food preservative and in the manufacture of aspirin.
Category: Chemistry, Pharmacology
Origin of salicylic acid:
1830–40; < F salicyl the diatomic radical of salicylic acid (< L salic-, s. of salix willow + F -yl
Princeton's WordNet
salicylic acid, 2-hydroxybenzoic acid(noun)
a white crystalline substance with a bitter aftertaste; used as a fungicide or in making aspirin or dyes or perfumes
Wiktionary
salicylic acid(Noun)
A white crystalline organic acid, 2-hydroxybenzoic acid, CH(OH)(COOH), used in the production of aspirin and other industrial chemicals.
Origin: Salix (the willow), from whose bark it can be obtained.
The Nuttall Encyclopedia
Salicylic Acid
produced in commercial quantities from carbolic acid; is a white crystalline powder, soluble in water, odourless, of a sweetish acid taste; largely used as an external antiseptic, and internally in the form of salicylate of sodium as a febrifuge and cure for acute rheumatism.
U.S. National Library of Medicine
Salicylic Acid
A compound obtained from the bark of the white willow and wintergreen leaves, and also prepared synthetically. It has bacteriostatic, fungicidal, and keratolytic actions. Its salts, the salicylates, are used as analgesics. (From Dorland's, 28th ed)
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