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acetaldehyde

American  
[as-i-tal-duh-hahyd] / ˌæs ɪˈtæl dəˌhaɪd /

noun

Chemistry.
  1. a volatile, colorless, water-soluble liquid, C 2 H 4 O, having a pungent, fruitlike odor: used chiefly in the silvering of mirrors and in organic synthesis.


acetaldehyde British  
/ ˌæsɪˈtældɪˌhaɪd /

noun

  1. Systematic name: ethanal.  a colourless volatile pungent liquid, miscible with water, used in the manufacture of organic compounds and as a solvent and reducing agent. Formula: CH 3 CHO

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

acetaldehyde Scientific  
/ ăs′ĭ-tăldə-hīd′ /
  1. A colorless, flammable liquid, used to manufacture acetic acid, perfumes, and drugs. Chemical formula: C 2 H 4 O.


Etymology

Origin of acetaldehyde

First recorded in 1875–80; acet- + aldehyde

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

ZBiotics has funded studies demonstrating both the safety of their product and that their bacteria effectively broke down a significant amount of acetaldehyde in simulated gut conditions in a lab.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 30, 2024

This disruption means extra acetaldehyde circulates, causing inflammation and headaches.

From Salon Dec. 16, 2024

As a result, people can end up accumulating the toxin acetaldehyde, explains lead author Apramita Devi, postdoctoral researcher with the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology.

From Science Daily Nov. 20, 2023

It can cause cancer because it breaks down in the body to form a compound called acetaldehyde, which damages DNA.

From Scientific American Sep. 21, 2023

In addition to formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde, trioxymethylene, methylal, hexamethylene-tetramine, and other substances containing a reactive methylene group, as well as acetaldehyde, benzaldehyde and other aldehydes may be employed to induce reaction.

From Synthetic Tannins by Georg Grasser

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