cyanogen

noun

cy·​an·​o·​gen sī-ˈa-nə-jən How to pronounce cyanogen (audio)
1
: a monovalent group −CN present in cyanides
2
: a colorless flammable poisonous gas (CN)2

Examples of cyanogen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web So far, there's no evidence that exposure to the actual, very low concentrations of cyanogen chloride in pools will protect you in any way or give you superpowers. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 23 June 2023 One astronomer pointed out that Earth would encounter the comet’s gaseous tail, filled with toxic cyanogen gas. Popular Science, 9 Dec. 2023 The comet has a bright green glow around its nucleus, due to the effect of sunlight on its molecules, especially diatomic carbon and cyanogen. Robert Lea, Popular Mechanics, 8 Feb. 2023 Separating light from 2I/Borisov into its component parts, his team found a signature of cyanogen, a molecule made of a carbon atom and a nitrogen atom bonded together. Sarah Kaplan, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Nov. 2019 The probe survived for about 72 minutes on the cold ground, spying rocks of water ice, measuring the atmospheric density and temperature, and detecting organic compounds such as ethane, cyanogen, benzene and large amounts of methane. Jay Bennett, Smithsonian, 6 May 2012 Hydrogen glows red, helium glows yellow, and cyanogen glows green. Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, 18 Dec. 2018 The comet currently passing by Earth, comet 46P/Wirtanen, has a substantial amount of cyanogen. Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, 18 Dec. 2018 His biggest coup was providing the Brits with the design of a chemical warfare dispersal device manufactured from parts that could be found in a tool shed and was capable of spreading deadly cyanogen chloride or other agents. NBC News, 17 June 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cyanogen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French cyanogène, from cyan- + gène -gen

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cyanogen was in 1816

Dictionary Entries Near cyanogen

Cite this Entry

“Cyanogen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cyanogen. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cyanogen

noun
cy·​ano·​gen
sī-ˈan-ə-jən
: a colorless flammable poisonous gas consisting of carbon and nitrogen

Medical Definition

cyanogen

noun
cy·​ano·​gen sī-ˈan-ə-jən How to pronounce cyanogen (audio)
1
: a monovalent group −CN present in cyanides
2
: a colorless flammable poisonous gas (CN)2

More from Merriam-Webster on cyanogen

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