Definition of "picric" [pi•cric]

• Designating a type of bitter yellow acid. (adjective)

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• "The FBI says phenol has common legitimate uses but can be used to make trinitrophenol, an explosive also known as picric acid."
• "The FBI received a report on 1 February from a chemical supplier about an attempt by Aldawsari to buy concentrated phenol, which has legitimate uses but can also can be used to make the explosive trinitrophenol, known as picric acid."
• "Where destruction pure and simple is desired, the shell is charged with a high explosive such as picric acid or T.N.T., the colloquial abbreviation for the devastating agent scientifically known as "Trinitrotoluene," the base of which, in common with all the high explosives used by the different powers and variously known as lyddite, melinite, cheddite, and so forth, is picric acid."