furan

[ fyoor-an, fyoo-ran ]

noun

1. a colorless, liquid, unsaturated, five-membered heterocyclic compound, C 4 H 4 O, obtained from furfural: used chiefly in organic synthesis.

furan

/ ˈfjʊəræn; fjʊəˈræn /

noun

1. a colourless flammable toxic liquid heterocyclic compound, used in the manufacture of cotton textiles and in the synthesis of nylon. Formula: C 4 H 4 O Also calledfurfuran

furan

/ fyr′ăn′,fy-răn′ /

1. Any of a group of colorless, volatile, organic compounds containing a ring of four carbon atoms and one oxygen atom. Furans are obtained from wood oils and used in the synthesis of many organic compounds.
2. The simplest such compound, consisting of a furan ring with two double bonds and attached to four hydrogen atoms. Chemical formula: C 4 H 4 O.

Word History and Origins

Origin of furan¹

First recorded in 1890–95; aphetic form of furfuran

Word History and Origins

Origin of furan¹

C19: shortened form of furfuran , from furfur