formic

[fawr-mik] /ˈfɔr mɪk/
adjective
1.
of or pertaining to ants.
2.
Chemistry. of or derived from formic acid.
Origin
1785-95; irregular < Latin formīca ant. Cf. French formique
Examples from the web for formic
  • formic acid is approved for use as a pesticide solely within honeybee hives.
British Dictionary definitions for formic

formic

/ˈfɔːmɪk/
adjective
1.
of, relating to, or derived from ants
2.
of, containing, or derived from formic acid
Word Origin
C18: from Latin formīca ant; the acid occurs naturally in ants
Word Origin and History for formic
adj.

1791 (in formic acid), coined from Latin formica "ant" (see Formica (n.2)). The acid apparently first was noticed by Samuel Fisher and John Wray in 1670; it was first obtained in a fairly pure form in 1749 by German chemist Andreas Sigismund Marggraf (1709-1782), who prepared it by distilling red ants. It also is found in bee stings and stinging nettles.