ˈnī.trə̇l; -.ˌtrēl, -īl noun
( -s )
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary nitr- + -ile
: any of a class of compounds characterized by the presence of the trivalent nitrogen radical N≡ and derivable from oxygen-containing acids by complete removal of the elements of water from their ammonium salts ; usually : a compound (as acetonitrile, benzonitrile) that is characterized by the presence of the cyanogen group, is derivable from a carboxylic acid or its amide, and yields the acid on complete hydrolysis : an organic cyanide