cyan-

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

cyan- combining_form

1. a variant of cyano-

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

cy•an  (sī′an, sī′ən), n. 

1. See cyan blue. 
• Greek kýanos dark blue
• 1885–90

cyan-¹ ,

1. var. of cyano-¹, usually before a vowel or
   h: cyanamide.

cyan-² ,

1. var. of cyano-², before a vowel.

cyan-³ ,

1. var. of cyano-³, before a vowel.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

cy•a•no  (sī′ə nō′, sī an′ō), adj. [Chem.]

1. Chemistry containing the cyano group.

• independent use of cyano-³ 1960–65

cyano-¹ ,

1. a combining form meaning "blue, dark blue,'' used in the formation of compound words:
   cyanotype.

Also,[esp. before a vowel,] cyan- ¹.

• Greek kýano(s) dark blue (adjective, adjectival), dark-blue substance (noun, nominal)

cyano-² ,

1. Chemistry a combining form representing cyanide in the formation of compound words:
   cyanogen.

Also,[esp. before a vowel,] cyan- ².
cyano-³ ,

1. Chemistry a combining form used in the names of chemical compounds in which the cyano group is present:
   cyanohydrin.

Also,[esp. before a vowel,] cyan- ³.

• combining form representing cyanogen