What does "phenol" mean?

Phenol: 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.

Sources