Added 9 October 2026
iodine
noun
In Latin: iodium Coined: 1814, by Humphry Davy Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. More about iodine at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- A nonmetallic element belonging to the halogens; used especially in medicine and photography and in dyes; occurs naturally only in combination in small quantities (as in sea water or rocks).
- A tincture consisting of a solution of iodine in ethyl alcohol; applied topically to wounds as an antiseptic.
Origin
From French iode + -ine, from Ancient Greek ἰοειδής (ioeidḗs, “violet”). Coined by British chemist Humphry Davy in 1814.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)