Definition

A liquid solution made of formaldehyde mixed with water, commonly used as a disinfectant or preservative.

Example

The laboratory used formol to preserve the biological samples for further study.

Conversation

Have you ever worked with formol in your science experiments?

Yeah, I used it to preserve some specimens last semester.

That's interesting! I heard it's really effective for that purpose.

It is, but you have to be careful because it can be quite strong.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

The word 'formol' originates from the combination of 'form' (from Latin 'forma', meaning shape or appearance) and the suffix '-ol' (commonly used in chemistry to denote alcohols or compounds). Thus, 'formol' refers to a compound that has a specific shape or structure, particularly in a chemical context.

Memory Tip

Think of 'form' as relating to shape, and remember that 'formol' refers to a chemical compound with a specific structure.

Visually Confused Words