terephthalic acid: Meaning and Definition of

ter'eph•thal'ic ac'id

Pronunciation: (ter'ef-thal'ik, ter"-), [key]
— Chem. Chem.
  1. a white, crystalline, water-insoluble solid, CHO, the para isomer of phthalic acid: used chiefly in the manufacture of resins and textile fibers.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.