n 1  :  a clear or yellowish flammable oily liquid mixture of phenolic compounds obtained by the distillation of wood tar esp. from beech wood and used esp. as a disinfectant and as an expectorant in chronic bronchitis  2  :  a brownish oily liquid consisting chiefly of aromatic hydrocarbons obtained by distillation of coal tar and used esp. as a wood preservative .
 
 
 
Similar sounding terms:  crest  cris·ta  crossed  crust 
 
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