Word Study
chemical
CIDE DICTIONARY
chemical, a.
Pertaining to chemistry; characterized or produced by the forces and operations of chemistry; employed in the processes of chemistry; as, chemical changes; chemical combinations. [1913 Webster]
chemical, n.
A substance used for producing a chemical effect; a reagent. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
chemical, adj. & n.
--adj. of, made by, or employing chemistry or chemicals.
--n. a substance obtained or used in chemistry.
--adj. of, made by, or employing chemistry or chemicals.
--n. a substance obtained or used in chemistry.
Idiom
chemical bond the force holding atoms together in a molecule or crystal. chemical engineer one engaged in chemical engineering, esp. professionally. chemical engineering the design, manufacture, and operation of industrial chemical plants. chemical reaction a process that involves change in the structure of atoms, molecules, or ions. chemical warfare warfare using poison gas and other chemicals. fine chemicals chemicals of high purity usu. used in small amounts. heavy chemicals bulk chemicals used in industry and agriculture.
Derivative
chemically adv.
Etymology
chemic alchemic f. F chimique or mod.L chimicus, chymicus, f. med.L alchymicus: see ALCHEMY
THESAURUS
chemical
Chile saltpeter, absolute alcohol, acetate, acetone, acid, acidity, agent, alcohol, aldehyde, alkali, alkalinity, alloisomer, amine, ammonia, amyl alcohol, anhydride, anion, antacid, arsenate, arsenite, atom, base, basic, basic anhydride, benzoate, bicarbonate, bicarbonate of soda, bichloride of mercury, biochemical, bisulfate, borate, borax, bromide, calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, carbide, carbohydrate, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbonate, cation, chemical element, chemicals, chemicobiological, chemicoengineering, chemicomineralogical, chemicophysical, chemurgic, chlorate, chlorite, chromate, chromoisomer, citrate, compound, copolymer, copolymeric, copolymerous, copperas, cyanide, dehydrated alcohol, dichromate, dimer, dimeric, dimerous, dioxide, disulfide, electrochemical, element, elemental, elementary, ester, ethanol, ether, ethyl, ethyl alcohol, fluoride, formaldehyde, fulminate, halide, halogen, heavy chemicals, heteromerous, high polymer, homopolymer, hydracid, hydrate, hydride, hydrocarbon, hydroxide, hypochlorite, inorganic chemical, inorganic chemistry, iodide, ion, isomer, isomerous, isopropyl alcohol, ketone, lactate, macrochemical, macromolecule, metamer, metameric, methane, methanol, methyl, methyl alcohol, molecule, monomer, monomerous, monoxide, neutralizer, niter, nitrate, nitride, nitrite, nonacid, organic chemical, oxalate, oxide, oxyacid, permanganate, peroxide, petrochemical, phosphate, phosphide, photochemical, physicochemical, phytochemical, polymer, polymeric, potash, potassium nitrate, pseudoisomer, radical, radiochemical, reagent, sal ammoniac, salt, saltpeter, silicate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium bromide, sodium chloride, sodium hypochlorite, sulfacid, sulfate, sulfide, sulfite, tartrate, thermochemical, trimerFor further exploring for "chemical" in Webster Dictionary Online