salicylic acid
noun Chemistry, Pharmacology.
a white, crystalline, very slightly water-soluble powder, C7H6O3, prepared from salicin or phenol: used as a food preservative, in the manufacture of aspirin, and in medicine chiefly in the form of a salicylate as a remedy for rheumatic and gouty conditions.
Origin of salicylic acid
First recorded in 1830–40
Words nearby salicylic acid
salicornia,
salicylaldehyde,
salicylamide,
salicylate,
salicylic,
salicylic acid,
salicylism,
salience,
saliency,
salient,
salientian
British Dictionary definitions for salicylic acid
salicylic acid
/ (ˌsælɪˈsɪlɪk) /
noun
a white crystalline slightly water-soluble substance with a sweet taste and bitter aftertaste, used in the manufacture of aspirin, dyes, and perfumes, and as a fungicide. Formula: C 6 H 4 (OH)(COOH)
Word Origin for salicylic acid
C19: from
salicyl (via French from Latin
salix a willow +
-yl) +
-ic
Medical definitions for salicylic acid
salicylic acid
[ săl′ĭ-sĭl′ĭk ]
n.
A white crystalline acid used in making aspirin and in the topical treatment of skin conditions such as eczema.
Scientific definitions for salicylic acid
salicylic acid
[ săl′ĭ-sĭl′ĭk ]
A white, crystalline acid used to make aspirin, to treat certain skin conditions, and to preserve and flavor foods. Salicylic acid is benzoic acid with a hydroxyl group (OH) attached to the carboxyl group (COOH). Chemical formula: C7H6O3.