Pages

Sunday, 16 September 2012

Entry: picric (adj.)

In context:"At the horizon to the north a bulbous cone of picric clouds that gets taller by the hour as the Methuen-Andover border's mammoth effectuators force northern MA's combined oxides north against some sort of upper-air resistance, it looks like."

Definitionpicric acid n. a yellow crystalline acid with a very bitter taste, obtained by nitrating phenol and used in the manufacture of explosives and in dyeing; 2,4,6-trinitrophenol, C6H2(NO2)3OH.

Other: Picric acid is frequently used in explosives.  Also, here is a neat fact for your next party: "Picric acid emits a high-pitched whine during combustion in air and this has led to its widespread use in fireworks." (Wikipedia)

SNOOT score: 1
 
Page: 456

Source: Oxford English Dictionary, Wikipedia   

No comments:

Post a Comment