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benzaldehyde

American  
[ben-zal-duh-hahyd] / bɛnˈzæl dəˌhaɪd /

noun

Chemistry.
  1. a colorless or yellowish, water-soluble, volatile oil, C 7 H 6 O, having a bitter, almondlike odor, used chiefly in the organic synthesis of dyes, perfumes, and flavors, and as a solvent; artificial oil of bitter almond.


benzaldehyde British  
/ bɛnˈzældɪˌhaɪd /

noun

  1. Systematic name: benzenecarbaldehyde.  a yellowish fragrant volatile oil occurring in almond kernels and used in the manufacture of dyes, perfumes, and flavourings and as a solvent for oils and resins. Formula: C 6 H 5 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

benzaldehyde Scientific  
/ bĕn-zăldə-hīd′ /
  1. A colorless aromatic oil that smells like almonds. It is obtained naturally from certain nuts and plant leaves, or made synthetically. It is used in perfumes and as a solvent and flavoring. Chemical formula: C 7 H 6 O.


Etymology

Origin of benzaldehyde

From German, dating back to 1865–70; benz-, 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.

Cranberries' flavor and aroma come from compounds in the fruit such as cinnamates that add cinnamon notes, vanillin for hints of vanilla, benzoates and benzaldehyde, which tastes like almonds.

From Salon

Instead, they suspected that tiger beetles, which produce benzaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide as defensive chemicals, were using ultrasound to warn bats that they are noxious -- like many moths do.

From Science Daily

Conventional home fragrance products can contain hundreds of chemicals, including phthalates, benzaldehyde, camphor, ethyl acetate, benzyl acetate, musk ketone, benzene, formaldehyde, BHT and acetaldehyde.

From Washington Post

For example, hydrogen cyanide and larger, ring-shaped benzaldehyde both smell like almonds.

From Scientific American

Image: Ford Ford and Olfiction, Ford’s fragrance partner on Mach-Eau, says aside from reminding you of gasoline, the fragrance contains notes reminiscent of almondy benzaldehyde, a smell associated with car interiors, and para-Cresol, which provides the rubber smell of tires.

From The Verge