Picric

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈpɪkɹɪk/

Origin

From French picrique, from Ancient Greek πικρός (pikros, "bitter").

Full definition of picric

Adjective

1. Designating a type of bitter yellow acid.
• 1920, Peter B. Kyne, The Understanding Heart, Chapter IX:Baldy had not moved since lying down, and his regular and somewhat sterterous breathing ... told Monica that he was alive and resting comfortably. “A week of rest and good care and some picric acid on your burns will put you right, Baldy,” Monica told him.
• 2006, Thomas Pynchon, Against the Day, Vintage (2007), page 593:“Something in the picric family might do nicely,” Fatou went on, deploying maps and diagrams about the tiny room.

Derived terms

• picric acid