parent compound

noun

The simplest member of a class of compounds, from which the others are formally obtained by substituting radicals for hydrogen atoms.

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Meanings

nounparent compound (plural parent compounds)

plural parent compounds

  1. chemistryThe simplest member of a class of compounds, from which the others are formally obtained by substituting radicals for hydrogen atoms.

Origin

From parent + compound.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

parent compound. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/parent%20compound

MLA

“parent compound.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/parent%20compound. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “parent compound,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/parent%20compound.

Source: parent compound on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.