cyanide

noun

cy·​a·​nide ˈsī-ə-ˌnīd How to pronounce cyanide (audio)
-nəd
1
: a compound of cyanogen with a more electropositive element or group: such as
2

Examples of cyanide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In 1946: Nazi leader Hermann Goering, who was convicted during the Nuremberg trials, committed suicide by swallowing a cyanide capsule in his prison cell hours before his scheduled hanging for war crimes. Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 15 Oct. 2024 Once mining begins, harmful chemicals like mercury and cyanide pollute nearby rivers. Jalynn Hilton, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2024 To give just one example, compounds of iron and cyanide (ferrocyanides) have been found to be crucial for producing the nucleotide building blocks of RNA. Mario Livio, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2024 The head of the forensic medicine department at Chulalongkorn University’s medical school said that there was cyanide in the blood of all six, according to the Associated Press. Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for cyanide 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cyanide.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cyanide was in 1826

Dictionary Entries Near cyanide

Cite this Entry

“Cyanide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cyanide. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

cyanide

noun
cy·​a·​nide ˈsī-ə-ˌnīd How to pronounce cyanide (audio)
-nəd
: a very poisonous compound consisting of carbon and nitrogen with either sodium or potassium

Medical Definition

cyanide

noun
cy·​a·​nide ˈsī-ə-ˌnīd, -nəd How to pronounce cyanide (audio)
: any of several compounds (as potassium cyanide) that contain the radical CN having a chemical valence of one, react with and inactivate respiratory enzymes, and are rapidly lethal producing drowsiness, tachycardia, coma, and finally death

More from Merriam-Webster on cyanide

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