citral

[si-truh l]

noun Chemistry.

a pale yellow, water-insoluble, liquid aldehyde, C10H16O, having a strong lemonlike odor, consisting in natural form of two isomers (citral a or geranial and citral b or neral), usually obtained from the oils of lemon and orange or synthetically: used chiefly in perfumery, flavoring, and the synthesis of vitamin A.

Origin of citral

First recorded in 1890–95; citr(us) + -al¹

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

Examples from the Web for citral

Historical Examples of citral

It may be detected by the same test which was used for citral.
Detection of the Common Food Adulterants
Edwin M. Bruce
It is prepared by treating a mixture of citral and acetone with barium hydrate, and distilling in vacuo.
The Handbook of Soap Manufacture
W. H. Simmons
The important ingredients of lemon extract are lemon oil and citral, its aromatic constituent.
Detection of the Common Food Adulterants
Edwin M. Bruce
It is asserted that the mules of serins, citral finches, and goldfinches, are fruitful.
The Natural History of Cage Birds
J. M. Bechstein
Geraniol by oxidation goes into the aldehyde, citral, which occurs in lemons, oranges and verbena flowers.
Creative Chemistry
Edwin E. Slosson

British Dictionary definitions for citral

citral

noun

a yellow volatile liquid with a lemon-like odour, found in oils of lemon grass, orange, and lemon and used in perfumery: a terpene aldehyde consisting of the cis- isomer (citral-a or geranial) and the trans- isomer (citral-b or neral). Formula: (CH 3) 2 C:CH(CH 2) 2 C(CH 3):CHCHO

Word Origin for citral

C19: from citr (us) + -al ³

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