thymol

[ thahy-mohl, -mawl ]

nounChemistry, Pharmacology.
  1. a colorless, crystalline, slightly water-soluble solid, C10H14O, having a pungent, aromatic taste and odor, obtained from the oil distilled from thyme or prepared synthetically: used chiefly in perfumery, embalming, preserving biological specimens, and in medicine as a fungicide and antiseptic.

Origin of thymol

1
First recorded in 1855–60; thyme + -ol2
  • Also called thyme camphor, thymic acid [tahy-mik]. /ˈtaɪ mɪk/.

Words Nearby thymol

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How to use thymol in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for thymol

thymol

/ (ˈθaɪmɒl) /


noun
  1. a white crystalline substance with an aromatic odour, obtained from the oil of thyme and used as a fungicide, antiseptic, and anthelmintic and in perfumery and embalming; 2-isopropylphenol. Formula: (CH 3) 2 CHC 6 H 3 (CH 3)OH

Origin of thymol

1
C19: from thyme + -ol ²

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