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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-zăl′də-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; see origin at 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.

See Examples For:

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 ● Nov. 25, 2024

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 ● May 15, 2024

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

From Scientific American ● Oct. 27, 2022

The prevalence of benzaldehyde in artificial cherry formations is “not so true of actual cherries,” said Mr. Wright.

From New York Times ● Nov. 2, 2020

When completely hydrolyzed, it yields two molecules of glucose and one each of benzaldehyde and hydrocyanic acid.

From The Chemistry of Plant Life by Roscoe Wilfred Thatcher

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