Dictionary.com

furan

[ fyoor-an, fyoo-ran ]
/ ˈfyʊər æn, fyʊˈræn /

noun

a colorless, liquid, unsaturated, five-membered heterocyclic compound, C4H4O, obtained from furfural: used chiefly in organic synthesis.

QUIZZES

A THANKSGIVING SPELLING QUIZ TO FEED YOUR HISTORY KNOWHOW

Before you celebrate family and blessings this year, take this quiz to test your spelling knowledge of the history and important figures of the first Thanksgiving.
Question 1 of 7
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT
Also called furfuran.

Origin of furan

First recorded in 1890–95; aphetic form of furfuran

Words nearby furan

FUO, FUPA, fuqaha, fur, furaldehyde, furan, furanose, furazolidone, furbearer, furbelow, furbish
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for furan

furan
/ (ˈfjʊəræn, fjʊəˈræn) /

noun

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 OAlso called: furfuran

Word Origin for furan

C19: shortened form of furfuran, from furfur
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

Medical definitions for furan

furan
[ fyur′ăn′, fyu-răn′ ]

n.

Any of a group of colorless, volatile, heterocyclic organic compounds containing a ring of four carbon atoms and one oxygen atom, used in the synthesis of organics.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for furan

furan
[ fyur′ăn′, fyu-răn′ ]

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.
The simplest such compound, consisting of a furan ring with two double bonds and attached to four hydrogen atoms. Chemical formula: C4H4O.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.