Pronunciation: ( ˌ )äk- ' sa-lik-
Function: noun
Etymology: French ( acide ) oxalique, from Latin oxalis
Date: 1790
: a poisonous strong acid (COOH) 2 or H 2 C 2 O 4 that occurs in various plants (as spinach) as oxalates and is used especially as a bleaching or cleaning agent and as a chemical intermediate