a nonmetallic element belonging to the halogens; used especially in medicine and photography and in dyes; occurs naturally only in combination in small quantities (as in sea water or rocks)
"The doctor applied iodine to my scraped knee because it helps prevent infection."
a tincture consisting of a solution of iodine in ethyl alcohol; applied topically to wounds as an antiseptic
"After cutting his finger, he dabbed some iodine on the wound before wrapping it up."
A chemical element (symbol: I) with an atomic number of 53; one of the halogens.
"The scientist carefully measured out a precise amount of iodine to ensure the experiment remained chemically accurate."
to treat with iodine.
"The doctor dipped a cotton swab in the bottle and used it to clean the cut on my finger before applying the bandage."
The name iodine comes from the French word iode, which is derived from the Ancient Greek term meaning "violet." British chemist Humphry Davy coined this name in 1814 because of the element's violet color.