CHEMICAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does chemical mean? 

• CHEMICAL (noun)
  The noun CHEMICAL has 1 sense:

1. material produced by or used in a reaction involving changes in atoms or molecules

  Familiarity information: CHEMICAL used as a noun is very rare.

• CHEMICAL (adjective)
  The adjective CHEMICAL has 2 senses:

1. relating to or used in chemistry

2. of or made from or using substances produced by or used in reactions involving atomic or molecular changes

  Familiarity information: CHEMICAL used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CHEMICAL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Material produced by or used in a reaction involving changes in atoms or molecules

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

chemical; chemical substance

Hypernyms ("chemical" is a kind of...):

material; stuff (the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object)

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

fumigant (a chemical substance used in fumigation)

softener (a substance added to another to make it less hard)

stabilizer (a chemical that is added to a solution or mixture or suspension to maintain it in a stable or unchanging state)

restrainer (a chemical that is added to a photographic developer in order to retard development and reduce the amount of fog on a film)

product (a chemical substance formed as a result of a chemical reaction)

phytochemical (a chemical substance obtained from plants that is biologically active but not nutritive)

pesticide (a chemical used to kill pests (as rodents or insects))

larvicide (a chemical used to kill larval pests)

fraction (a component of a mixture that has been separated by a fractional process)

intermediate (a substance formed during a chemical process before the desired product is obtained)

herbicide; weed killer; weedkiller (a chemical agent that destroys plants or inhibits their growth)

explosive (a chemical substance that undergoes a rapid chemical change (with the production of gas) on being heated or struck)

flux (a substance added to molten metals to bond with impurities that can then be readily removed)

fertiliser; fertilizer; plant food (any substance such as manure or a mixture of nitrates used to make soil more fertile)

soil conditioner (a chemical substance used to improve the structure of the soil and increase its porosity)

chemical compound; compound ((chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight)

congener (a minor chemical constituent that gives a wine or liquor its distinctive character)

carbon tetrahalide (compounds composed of 1 carbon and 4 halogen molecules)

bacteriacide; bactericide (any chemical agent that destroys bacteria)

carrier (an inactive substance that is a vehicle for a radioactive tracer of the same substance and that assists in its recovery after some chemical reaction)

Alar; daminozide (a chemical sprayed on fruit trees to regulate their growth so the entire crop can be harvested at one time)

reactant (a chemical substance that is present at the start of a chemical reaction)

Derivation:

chemical (of or made from or using substances produced by or used in reactions involving atomic or molecular changes)

• CHEMICAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Relating to or used in chemistry

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

chemic; chemical

Context example:

chemical balance

Pertainym:

chemistry (the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions)

Derivation:

chemistry (the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of or made from or using substances produced by or used in reactions involving atomic or molecular changes

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

chemical fertilizer

Pertainym:

chemical (material produced by or used in a reaction involving changes in atoms or molecules)

Derivation:

chemical (material produced by or used in a reaction involving changes in atoms or molecules)

chemistry (the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions)

 Context examples 

Alkyltransferases and Aryltransferases are classes of enzymes that transfer an alkyl or aryl chemical group from one compound (the donor) to another compound (the acceptor).

(Alkyltransferase and Aryltransferase, NCI Thesaurus)

A chemical that can dissolve in water, combine with acids to form salts, and make acids less acidic.

(Alkali, NCI Dictionary)

A type of chemical substance made from alcohol.

(Aldehyde, NCI Dictionary)

A chemical substance found in beer, wine, and liquor, and some medicines, mouthwashes, household products, and essential oils (scented liquid taken from plants).

(Alcohol, NCI Dictionary)

It blocks a chemical released during an allergic response that causes itching, sneezing, runny nose, wheezing, and watery eyes.

(Allegra, NCI Dictionary)

In the event that GVHD begins to develop, the chemical homodimerizer AP1903 can be administered, which binds to the drug binding domain and induces caspase 9 expression.

(Allogeneic T-Lymphocytes BPX-501, NCI Thesaurus)

Chemicals in your digestive system break the food parts down into sugars and acids, your body's fuel.

(Metabolic Disorders, NIH)

Having to do with metabolism (the total of all chemical changes that take place in a cell or an organism to produce energy and basic materials needed for important life processes).

(Metabolic, NCI Dictionary)

A mother's exposure to viruses or toxic chemicals while pregnant may play a part.

(Mental Disorders, NIH)

The chemical structure is C=CCN=C=S.

(Allyl Isothiocyanate, NCI Thesaurus/CRCH)