cyanide

[ sahy-uh-nahyd, -nid ]

noun

1. Also cy·a·nid [] Chemistry.
   1. a salt of hydrocyanic acid, as potassium cyanide, KCN.
   2. a nitrile, as methyl cyanide, C 2 H 3 N.

verb (used with object)

, cy·a·nid·ed, cy·a·nid·ing.

1. to treat with a cyanide, as an ore in order to extract gold.

cyanide

/ ˈsaɪəˌnaɪd; ˈsaɪənɪd /

noun

1. any salt of hydrocyanic acid. Cyanides contain the ion CN ^–and are extremely poisonous
2. another name (not in technical usage) for nitrile

cyanide

/ sī′ə-nīd′ /

1. Any of a large group of chemical compounds containing the radical CN, especially the very poisonous salts sodium cyanide and potassium cyanide. Cyanides are used to make plastics and to extract and treat metals.

Derived Forms

• ˌcyaniˈdation, noun

Other Words From

• sub·cya·nid noun
• sub·cya·nide noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cyanide¹

1820–30; cyan- ³ + -ide ( def )

Example Sentences

During the washing process, various chemicals, including mercury and cyanide, are used to help extract the gold from the soil, polluting big and small rivers.

From BBC

“Councilwoman Leslie Knope wants to put fluoride—which is a chemical—in your water. You know what else is a chemical? Strychnine. And Cyanide.”

From Slate

“Councilwoman Leslie Knope wants to put fluoride—which is a chemical—in your water. You know what else is a chemical? Strychnine. And Cyanide.”

From Slate

The researchers started pulling samples from the air, river mouth, groundwater, soil and even the green beans grown in a local community garden to check for pollutants after they found concerning levels of hydrogen sulfide — upward of 30 parts per million — and hydrogen cyanide near the Tijuana River.

From Los Angeles Times

But the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District conducted its own studies, which found less pollution — 0 to 16 parts per million of hydrogen sulfide in Imperial Beach, along with safe levels of hydrogen cyanide.

From Los Angeles Times