salicylaldehyde

[ sal-uh-sil-al-duh-hahyd ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. an oily, slightly water-soluble liquid, C 7 H 6 O 2 , having an almondlike odor: used chiefly in perfumery and in the synthesis of coumarin.

Word History and Origins

Origin of salicylaldehyde¹

1865–70; salicyl ( salicylic ) + aldehyde