chloral

[ klawr-uh l, klohr- ]

/ ˈklɔr əl, ˈkloʊr- /

noun

Also called trichloroacetaldehyde, trichloroacetic acid aldehyde. a colorless, oily liquid, C2Cl3HO, having a pungent odor, usually derived by the chlorination of ethyl alcohol or of acetaldehyde and combining with water to form chloral hydrate.

Also called chloral hydrate. Pharmacology. a white, crystalline solid, C2H3Cl3O2, formed by combining liquid chloral with water: used as a hypnotic.

Nearby words

chlor-, chlor-trimeton, chloracetic acid, chloracetophenone, chloracne, chloral, chloral hydrate, chloralose, chlorambucil, chloramine, chloramphenicol

Origin of chloral

First recorded in 1825–35; chlor-² + -al³

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for chloral

As soon as the patient has been sick, give a teaspoonful of the syrup of chloral in water.
A Manual of Toy Dogs|Mrs. Leslie Williams
Bromide of potassium and hydrate of chloral in drachm doses should be given in connection with conium.
Insomnia; and Other Disorders of Sleep|Henry M. Lyman
That gave him an opportunity to steal a bottle of chloral hydrate from the medic's locker.
The Man Who Hated Mars|Gordon Randall Garrett
Chloral may be given at any time when there is a necessity for it.
A Manual of Toy Dogs|Mrs. Leslie Williams

Now is the time to intervene, and give one teaspoonful of syrup of chloral with an equal quantity of water.
A Manual of Toy Dogs|Mrs. Leslie Williams

British Dictionary definitions for chloral

chloral

/ (ˈklɔːrəl) /

noun

a colourless oily liquid with a pungent odour, made from chlorine and acetaldehyde and used in preparing chloral hydrate and DDT; trichloroacetaldehyde

short for chloral hydrate

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