chloral

[klawr-uhl]

noun

1. Also called trichloroacetaldehyde. Also called trichloroacetic acid aldehyde. a colorless, oily liquid, C 2 Cl 3 HO, having a pungent odor, usually derived by the chlorination of ethyl alcohol or of acetaldehyde and combining with water to form chloral hydrate.

2. Also called chloral hydrate. Pharmacology.,  a white, crystalline solid, C 2 H 3 Cl 3 O 2 , formed by combining liquid chloral with water: used as a hypnotic.

chloral

/ ˈklɔːrəl /

noun

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

2. short for chloral hydrate

Word History and Origins

Origin of chloral¹

First recorded in 1825–35; chlor- ² + -al ³

Example Sentences

In one email to an online pharmacy, Raymond wrote, “Hello, do you have chloral hydrate for insomnia?”

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A bottle of chloral hydrate and bromides was nearby.

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A toxicology report revealed that Smith had ingested chloral hydrate, a sedative and hypnotic pharmaceutical drug, along with several prescription drugs, including Clonazepam, Lorazepam, Oxazepam and Valium.

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But prosecutors had additional evidence: Investigators had found traces of the heart medication digoxin in the body of one alleged victim and an overdose of the sedative chloral hydrate in another.

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And the hospital had prescribed the maximum dose of chloral hydrate for the other child, allowing additional doses if needed.

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