Pi"cric (?), a. [Gr. &?; bitter.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, a strong organic acid (called picric acid), intensely bitter.

&fist; Picric acid is obtained by treating phenol with strong nitric acid, as a brilliant yellow crystalline substance, C₆H₂(NO₂)₃.OH. It is used in dyeing silk and wool, and also in the manufacture of explosives, as it is very unstable when heated. Called also trinitrophenol, and formerly carbazotic acid.