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chemical

Syllabification: (chem·i·cal)
Pronunciation: /ˈkemikəl/
(abbreviation: chemical)
Translate chemical | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of chemical

adjective

  • of or relating to chemistry or the interactions of substances as studied in chemistry:the chemical composition of the atmosphere
  • of or relating to chemicals:chemical treatments for killing fungi
  • relating to, involving, or denoting the use of poison gas or other chemicals as weapons of war:the manufacture of chemical weapons

noun

  • a compound or substance that has been purified or prepared, especially artificially:never mix disinfectant with other chemicals controversy arose over treatment of apples with this chemical

Derivatives

chemically

Pronunciation: /-ik(ə)lē/
adverb

Origin:

late 16th century: from French chimique or modern Latin chimicus, chymicus, from medieval Latin alchymicus, from alchimia (see alchemy)

chemical in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of chemical in the British & World English dictionary