different between chemic vs chemical

English

Alternative forms

• chymic [from 16th c.]
• chymick [16th-18th c.]

Etymology

From Late Latin chemicus, chimicus, chymicus.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?k?m?k/

  Rhymes: -?m?k

Adjective

chemic (not comparable)

1. (archaic) Practising chemistry (or, earlier, alchemy); pertaining to these sciences.
2. (obsolete) Produced through alchemy; counterfeit.
   • 1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, I.217:

     a chymic treasure / Is glittering Youth, which I have spent betimes— / My heart in passion, and my head on rhymes.

3. (now rare) Chemical.

Noun

chemic (plural chemics)

1. (now rare) A chemist or (earlier) an alchemist.
   • 1633, John Donne, "The Comparison":

     like the Chymicks masculine equall fire, / Which in the Lymbecks warme wombe doth inspire / Into th'earths worthlesse part a soule of gold […]

2. (obsolete) A solution of chloride of lime, used in bleaching.

Verb

chemic (third-person singular simple present chemics, present participle chemicking, simple past and past participle chemicked)

1. (obsolete, transitive) To bleach with a solution of chloride of lime.

English

Etymology

chemic (“alchemy”) +? -al (“related to”)

Pronunciation

• enPR: k?m'?k-?l, IPA^(key): /?k?m?k?l/
• Rhymes: -?m?k?l

Adjective

chemical (not comparable)

1. Of or relating to chemistry.

2. Of or relating to a material or processes not commonly found in nature or in a particular product.
3. (obsolete) Of or relating to alchemy.

Derived terms

• technochemical

Translations

Further reading

• Chemistry on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Noun

chemical (plural chemicals)

1. (chemistry, sciences) Any specific chemical element or chemical compound or alloy.

2. (colloquial) An artificial chemical compound.

3. (slang) An addictive drug.

Usage notes

• The noun is frequently used in a slang and more specific non-technical way (2nd and 3rd definition) by the general public. Chemists and those who understand chemistry may gravitate toward the first, but the term "substance" is preferred usage.

Derived terms

Translations

Related terms

• alchemical
• chemist
• chemistry

See also

• molecule
• reagent

Anagrams

• Michalec, alchemic