cyanic, a.
(saɪˈænɪk)
[f. cyan- 2 + -ic.]
1. Chem. Of cyanogen, containing cyanogen in composition. cyanic acid, a colourless, pungent, volatile, unstable liquid (CNHO). cyanic ethers, the cyanates of the alcohol radicals.
| 1832 R. Christison Poisons xxviii. (ed. 2) 663 Cyanic and Cyanous acids are not poisonous. 1869 Roscoe Elem. Chem. 378 Cyanic acid itself cannot be prepared in the free state from its salts. |
2. Blue, azure; a. in Path., of a diseased condition of the skin, etc.; b. in Bot., one of the two series into which Candolle divided the colours of flowers (the other being xanthic = yellow).
| 1849–52 Todd Cycl. Anat. IV. 1455/2 A soldier..attracted particular attention on account of the cyanic colour of his sclerotica. 1879 Edin. Rev. CL. 382 Some whites belong to the xanthic, and some to the cyanic, group of colours. |