ammoniac

[ uh-moh-nee-ak ]

noun

1. Also am·mo·ni·a·cum [] gum ammoniac.

adjective

1. ammoniacal.

ammoniac

¹

/ əˈməʊnɪˌæk /

noun

1. a strong-smelling gum resin obtained from the stems of the N Asian umbelliferous plant Dorema ammoniacum and formerly used as an expectorant, stimulant, perfume, and in porcelain cement Also calledgum ammoniac

ammoniac

²

/ əˈməʊnɪˌæk /

adjective

1. a variant of ammoniacal

Word History and Origins

Origin of ammoniac¹

1375–1425; late Middle English armoniac, ammoniak < Latin ammōniacum < Greek ammōniakón (neuter of ammōniakós of Ammon; -i-, -ac ), applied to a salt and a gum resin prepared near the Shrine of Ammon in Libya

Word History and Origins

Origin of ammoniac¹

C14: from Latin ammōniacum, from Greek ammōniakos belonging to Ammon (apparently the gum resin was extracted from plants found in Libya near the temple of Ammon)

Example Sentences

Though he emitted a faint, ammoniac odor of sweat and Scotch he did not look at all drunk.

From Literature

Ah, yes, certainly she would go at once—her case was not locked—and she would take with her some sal ammoniac.

From Literature

Tiring of field and flock, in 1768 he moved to Edinburgh, where he founded a successful business producing sal ammoniac from coal soot, and busied himself with various scientific pursuits.

From Literature

This is pretty much what Arsenal’s back three seem like: confused, fumbling, spreading across the chest like a hot, sweet flush of ammoniac regret.

From The Guardian

While Galileo captured stunning surface images of swirling ammoniac storms, Juno’s mission is to peek beneath the gaseous veil to see inside Jupiter.

From The New Yorker