arsenic UK /ˈɑː(ɹ).sə.nɪk/US /ˈɑɹsənɪk/noun 3/ɑɹˈsɛnɪk/ adjective 1forms 1 noun3 •A toxic grey brittle nonmetallic chemical element (symbol As) with an atomic number of 33.The mining industry also had a hand in two other rollbacks. One was a decision to withdraw a Clinton rule that reduced by 80 percent the permissible standard for arsenic in drinking water. — 2001 •A single atom of this element. •Arsenic trioxide. arsenic UK /ɑː(ɹ)ˈsɛnɪk/US /ɑɹˈsɛnɪk/ adjective1 •Of or containing arsenic with a valence of 5. formsarsenics