Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Noun.

[Gr.

φαίνειν

to bring to light +

-yl

: cf. F.

phényle

. So called because it is a by-product of illuminating gas.]

(Chem.)

A hydrocarbon radical (

C6H5

) regarded as the essential residue of benzene, and the basis of an immense number of aromatic derivatives.