citral

[ si-truhl ]

/ ˈsɪ trəl /

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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.

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Origin of citral

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

Words nearby citral

citizen science, citizenship, citizenship papers, Citlaltépetl, citole, citral, citrate, citreous, citric, citric acid, citric acid cycle

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use citral in a sentence

The important ingredients of lemon extract are lemon oil and citral, its aromatic constituent.
Detection of the Common Food Adulterants|Edwin M. Bruce
Geraniol by oxidation goes into the aldehyde, citral, which occurs in lemons, oranges and verbena flowers.
Creative Chemistry|Edwin E. Slosson
It may be detected by the same test which was used for citral.
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

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

British Dictionary definitions for citral

citral

/ (ˈsɪtrəl) /

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