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neral

[neer-al]
noun
  1. citral b.See under citral.
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Origin of neral

First recorded in 1935–40; ner(ol) + -al3

citral

[si-truh l]
noun Chemistry.
  1. 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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for neral

neral

noun
  1. chem the trans- isomer of citral
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Word Origin

C20: from nerol (an alcohol from neroli oil) + -al ³

citral

noun
  1. 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
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Word Origin

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