BORIC ACID

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does boric acid mean? 

• BORIC ACID (noun)
  The noun BORIC ACID has 2 senses:

1. a white or colorless slightly acid solid that is soluble in water and ethanol; used in the manufacture of glass and paper and adhesives and in detergents and as a flux in welding; also used as an antiseptic and food preservative

2. any of various acids containing boron and oxygen

  Familiarity information: BORIC ACID used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BORIC ACID (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A white or colorless slightly acid solid that is soluble in water and ethanol; used in the manufacture of glass and paper and adhesives and in detergents and as a flux in welding; also used as an antiseptic and food preservative

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

boric acid; orthoboric acid

Hypernyms ("boric acid" is a kind of...):

acid (any of various water-soluble compounds having a sour taste and capable of turning litmus red and reacting with a base to form a salt)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Any of various acids containing boron and oxygen

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

boracic acid; boric acid

Hypernyms ("boric acid" is a kind of...):

acid (any of various water-soluble compounds having a sour taste and capable of turning litmus red and reacting with a base to form a salt)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "boric acid"):

perboric acid (a form of boric acid)

 Context examples 

The exact mechanism of action of boric acid is unknown; generally cytotoxic to all cells.

(Boric Acid, NCI Thesaurus)