Halogen

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Halogen \Hal"o*gen\ (h[a^]l"[-o]*j[e^]n), n. [Gr. "a`ls, "alo`s,
     salt + -gen: cf. F. halog[`e]ne.] (Chem.)
     An electro-negative element or radical, which, by combination
     with a metal, forms a haloid salt; especially, chlorine,
     fluorine, bromine, and iodine; sometimes, also cyanogen. See
     {Chlorine family}, under {Chlorine}.


     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  halogen
       n : any of five related nonmetallic elements (fluorine or
           chlorine or bromine or iodine or astatine) that are all
           monovalent and readily form negative ions