formic acid: Meaning and Definition of

for'mic ac'id

Pronunciation: [key]
— Chem., Pharm. Chem.,Pharm.
  1. a colorless, irritating, fuming, water-soluble liquid, CHO, originally obtained from ants and now manufactured synthetically, used in dyeing and tanning and in medicine chiefly as a counterirritant and astringent.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.