chlorpyrifos

1 9.9

A toxic chemical used on crops to kill insects

noun
/klɔrˈpɪrɪfɒs/

Specialized

: clorpirifos

Chlorpyrifos exposure: maternal and umbilical cord plasma samples were used to measure chlorpyrifos exposure, as described previously.

He's already reversed a ban on chlorpyrifos, a brain harming agrochemical that was about to be enacted.

Examples

Concerns about health risks have led to increased scrutiny of products containing chlorpyrifos.
Many farmers rely on chlorpyrifos to control insect populations in their fields.
But, you know, like, for instance, right now, Pesticide Action Network has working hard to to, to put that chlorpyrifos ban back in place.
Neighborhood Context, Chlorpyrifos, and Neurodevelopment

Academic text (2011)
TABLE 3 -- Associations of 36-Month Mental Development Index Scores With Neighborhood Characteristics, Building Disrepair, and Chlorpyrifos

Academic text (2011)
Chlorpyrifos is a widely used chlorpyrifos that helps protect crops from pests.

Synonyms

phorate

vschlorpyrifos

Specialized

1 9.9

A very poisonous pesticide used on crops to kill insects

is toxic but usually described as less extremely poisonous

disulfoton

vschlorpyrifos

Specialized

1 9.9

A poisonous substance used on crops to kill insects

is used broadly against many pest types rather than only crop pests

pyrethrin

vschlorpyrifos

Specialized

1 7.5

A natural chemical from a type of flower that kills insects

is a synthetic organophosphate chemical used broadly rather than a natural extract

aldrin

vschlorpyrifos

Specialized

1 9.9

A poisonous chemical once used on crops to kill insects and now banned in many countries

is used in agriculture rather than being banned in many countries

heptachlor

vschlorpyrifos

Specialized

1 9.9

A poisonous chemical once used to kill insects that is now banned

is described for current pest control rather than for historical ban reasons

carbaryl

vschlorpyrifos

Specialized

1 8.9

An insect poison used on crops and in gardens to kill pests

is mainly used in wider agricultural and pest control settings rather than gardens

cyclodiene

vschlorpyrifos

Specialized

1 9.9

A man made chemical used to kill insects that stays in soil and water for a long time

is described by its chemical class and broad pest use rather than persistence

phosphamidon

vschlorpyrifos

Specialized

1 9.9

A very poisonous chemical used on farms to kill insects

is specifically identified as an organophosphate class chemical

methoxychlor

vschlorpyrifos

Archaic

1 9.9

A man-made chemical used to kill insects on crops

is identified as an organophosphate class chemical not just any synthetic insecticide

Surface Forms

chlorpyrifos singular

chlorpyrifos plural

Morphology

chlorpyrifos = chloro + pyr + ifos

This is a technical chemical name formed from specialized combining forms (e.g. chloro-, pyr-, -phos/-ifos) that are not productive or familiar to average learners, so the meaning cannot be derived from common English vocabulary.

Etymology

The word chlorpyrifos comes from parts that describe its chemistry: chloro- means 'chlorine', pyr- comes from a chemical called 'pyridine', and -phos is like phosphate, meaning 'phosphorus'. So, the name shows it contains phosphorus and chlorine, which explains why chlorpyrifos is a chemical made to kill insects.