citronella

[ si-truh-nel-uh ]

/ ˌsɪ trəˈnɛl ə /

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noun

a fragrant grass, Cymbopogon nardus, of southern Asia, cultivated as the source of citronella oil.

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Origin of citronella

1855–60; <New Latin <French citronelle, equivalent to citroncitron + -elle diminutive suffix

Words nearby citronella

citriculture, citrin, citrine, citron, citronalis, citronella, citronellal, citronella oil, citronellol, citron melon, citron wood

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

How to use citronella in a sentence

From starting grills, to lighting fireworks, to burning citronella candles, this little lighter is the true hero of the summer season.
Optimal Grilling Accessories and Grilling Tools For The Best Backyard BBQ|Irena Collaku|June 25, 2021|Popular-Science
Oil of citronella and oil of lemon grass are sometimes substituted for lemon oil.
Detection of the Common Food Adulterants|Edwin M. Bruce
Instead of the red color and the white compound, citronella gives a bright yellow color, which does not disappear for some time.
Detection of the Common Food Adulterants|Edwin M. Bruce
Then stomachs must be anointed with more citronella; sheets and blankets reassembled, and quiet gradually restored.
Where the Blue Begins|Christopher Morley

One marrow bone, half a pint of oil, ten cents' worth of citronella.
The Whitehouse Cookbook (1887)|Mrs. F.L. Gillette
You see, citronella comes out in the wash, but there are one or two other things much stronger.
Skippy Bedelle|Owen Johnson

British Dictionary definitions for citronella

citronella

/ (ˌsɪtrəˈnɛlə) /

noun

Also called: citronella grass a tropical Asian grass, Cymbopogon (or Andropogon) nardus, with bluish-green lemon-scented leaves

Also called: citronella oil the yellow aromatic oil obtained from this grass, used in insect repellents, soaps, perfumes, etc

Word Origin for citronella

C19: New Latin, from French citronnelle lemon balm, from citron lemon

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

Scientific definitions for citronella

citronella

[ sĭt′rə-nĕl′ə ]

The pale-yellow, lemon-scented oil obtained from the leaves of a tropical Asian grass (Cymbopogon nardus), used in insect repellents and perfumes. Citronella consists primarily of an aldehyde of octane.