From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Phenol \Phe"nol\, noun [Gr. ? to show + -ol: cf. F. ph['e]nol.] (Chem.)
1. A white or pinkish crystalline substance, {C6H5OH}, produced by the destructive distillation of many organic bodies, as wood, coal, etc., and obtained from the heavy oil from coal tar.
Note: It has a peculiar odor, somewhat resembling creosote, which is a complex mixture of phenol derivatives. It is of the type of alcohols, and is called also {phenyl alcohol}, but has acid properties, and hence is popularly called {carbolic acid}, and was formerly called {phenic acid}. It is a powerful caustic poison, and in dilute solution has been used as an antiseptic.
2. Any one of the series of hydroxyl derivatives of which phenol proper is the type.
{Glacial phenol} (Chem.), pure crystallized phenol or carbolic acid.
{Phenol acid} (Chem.), any one of a series of compounds which are at once derivatives of both phenol and some member of the fatty acid series; thus, salicylic acid is a phenol acid.
{Phenol alcohol} (Chem.), any one of series of derivatives of phenol and carbinol which have the properties of both combined; thus, saligenin is a phenol alcohol.
{Phenol aldehyde} (Chem.), any one of a series of compounds having both phenol and aldehyde properties.
{Phenol phthalein}. See under {Phthalein}.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
noun
1: any of a class of weakly acidic organic compounds; molecule contains one or more hydroxyl groups
2: a toxic white soluble crystalline acidic derivative of benzene; used in manufacturing and as a disinfectant and antiseptic; poisonous if taken internally [syn: {carbolic acid}, {hydroxybenzene}, {oxybenzene}, {phenylic acid}]
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