thionyl

noun

thi·​o·​nyl

ˈthīənᵊl,

-ˌnil

plural -s

: the bivalent radical or cation >SO of sulfurous acid : sulfinyl

—used especially in names of inorganic compounds

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary thion- entry 1 + -yl; originally formed in German

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!