n.
Variant: also tri · chlor · phon
Pronunciation: ( ˌ )tr ī - ' klo ̇ r- ˌ fän
Function: noun
Etymology: tri- + chlor- + -fon (irreg. from phosphonate, a salt derived from phosphine)
Date: 1960
: a crystalline compound C 4 H 8 Cl 3 O 4 P used especially as an insecticide