carboxyl

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/kɑː(ɹ)ˈbɒksɪl//kɑː(ɹ)ˈbɒksaɪl/

noun

A univalent functional group consisting of a carbonyl and a hydroxyl functional group (-CO.OH); characteristic of carboxylic acids.

Similar
carboxyliccarboxyl group
OriginEnglish hydroxyl ← French oxygène ← Ancient Greek γένος (génos) →
Less commonScrabble 22
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Meanings

nouncarboxyl (plural carboxyls)

plural carboxyls

  1. chemistryA univalent functional group consisting of a carbonyl and a hydroxyl functional group (-CO.OH); characteristic of carboxylic acids.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiverelating to or containing the carboxyl group or carboxyl radical

Similar
carboxylic

nounthe univalent radical -COOH; present in and characteristic of organic acids

Similar
carboxyl group
Broader
groupradicalchemical group
Also see
carboxylic

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*kerh₃-der.?
  2. Latincarbōnem
  3. Frenchcarbone
  4. Englishcarbon
  5. Proto-Indo-European*swel-der.?
  6. Ancient Greekῡ̔́λη (hū́lē)
  7. Englishcarbonyl
  8. Proto-Indo-European*wed-
  9. Proto-Indo-European*wódr̥
  10. Proto-Hellenic*údōr
  11. Ancient Greekῡ̆̔́δωρ (hū̆́dōr)
  12. Ancient Greekὑδρο- (hudro-)
  13. Frenchhydro-
  14. Proto-Indo-European*ǵenh₁-
  15. Proto-Indo-European*ǵénh₁os
  16. Proto-Hellenic*génos
  17. Ancient Greekγένος (génos)
  18. Frenchhydrogène
  19. Englishhydrogen
  20. Proto-Indo-European*h₂eḱ-der.?
  21. Ancient Greekὀξύς (oxús)
  22. Ancient Greekγένος (génos)
  23. Frenchoxygène
  24. Englishoxygen
  25. Englishhydroxyl
  26. Englishcarboxyl

Blend of carbonyl + hydroxyl.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan carboxil
  • carboxilcarboxyl
Chinese Cantonese 羧基
  • 羧基 (so¹ gei¹)carboxyl
Chinese Mandarin 羧基
  • 羧基 (suōjī)carboxyl
Czech karboxyl
  • karboxylcarboxyl
Danish syregruppe
  • syregruppecarboxyl
Finnish karboksyyli
  • karboksyylicarboxyl
French carboxyle
  • carboxylecarboxyl
German Carboxy, Carboxygruppe
  • Carboxycarboxyl
  • Carboxygruppecarboxyl
Italian carbossile
  • carbossilecarboxyl
Japanese カルボキシル基
  • カルボキシル基 (karubokishiru-ki)carboxyl
Korean 카르복실기
  • 카르복실기 (kareuboksilgi)carboxyl
Māori waro-waihā
  • waro-waihācarboxyl
Polish grupa karboksylowa, karboksyl
  • grupa karboksylowacarboxyl
  • karboksylcarboxyl
Portuguese carboxila
  • carboxilacarboxyl
Romanian carboxil
  • carboxilcarboxyl
Spanish carboxilo
  • carboxilocarboxyl
Swedish karboxyl
  • karboxylcarboxyl
Turkish karboksil
  • karboksilcarboxyl
Cite this entry
APA

carboxyl. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/carboxyl

MLA

“carboxyl.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/carboxyl. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “carboxyl,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/carboxyl.

Source: carboxyl on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.