Definition

Relating to or containing a type of acid that is derived from coal tar, often used in disinfectants and antiseptics.

Example

The carbolic solution was used to clean the surgical instruments.

Conversation

I just bought some carbolic soap for cleaning.

Really? I've heard it’s great for disinfecting surfaces.

Yeah, it’s supposed to be effective against germs.

I should get some too, especially with all the cleaning I have to do.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

A type of acid that is used as a disinfectant and is derived from coal tar.

Example

The hospital used carbolic to clean the surgical instruments.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of carbolic acid for cleaning?

Yeah, I think it's a strong disinfectant, right?

Exactly! It's supposed to kill a lot of germs.

Root Explanation

Carbolic is formed from "carb-" (from Latin "carbo", meaning coal or carbon) and "-olic" (a suffix used in chemistry to denote a relation to alcohols or phenols). The word refers to a compound related to carbon, specifically one derived from coal tar, often used as a disinfectant.

Memory Tip

Think of 'carbon' ('carb-') as the base element, and remember that 'carbolic' refers to a compound related to carbon, especially in its use as a disinfectant.

Visually Confused Words