phenol /fē″nol/ [Gk, phainein, to appear; L, oleum, oil] , 1. See carbolic acid. 2. any of a large number and variety of chemical products closely related in structure to the alcohols and containing a hydroxyl group attached to a benzene ring. The phenols are components of dyes, plastics, disinfectants, antimicrobials, and other drugs, including salicylic acid.
