benzaldehyde

[ ben-zal-duh-hahyd ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a colorless or yellowish, water-soluble, volatile oil, C 7 H 6 O, having a bitter, almondlike odor, used chiefly in the organic synthesis of dyes, perfumes, and flavors, and as a solvent; artificial oil of bitter almond.

benzaldehyde

/ bɛnˈzældɪˌhaɪd /

noun

1. a yellowish fragrant volatile oil occurring in almond kernels and used in the manufacture of dyes, perfumes, and flavourings and as a solvent for oils and resins. Formula: C 6 H 5 CHO Systematic namebenzenecarbaldehyde

benzaldehyde

/ bĕn-zăl′də-hīd′ /

1. A colorless aromatic oil that smells like almonds. It is obtained naturally from certain nuts and plant leaves, or made synthetically. It is used in perfumes and as a solvent and flavoring. Chemical formula: C 7 H 6 O.

Word History and Origins

Origin of benzaldehyde¹

From German, dating back to 1865–70; benz-, aldehyde

Example Sentences

Instead, they suspected that tiger beetles, which produce benzaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide as defensive chemicals, were using ultrasound to warn bats that they are noxious -- like many moths do.

From Science Daily

Conventional home fragrance products can contain hundreds of chemicals, including phthalates, benzaldehyde, camphor, ethyl acetate, benzyl acetate, musk ketone, benzene, formaldehyde, BHT and acetaldehyde.

From Washington Post

For example, hydrogen cyanide and larger, ring-shaped benzaldehyde both smell like almonds.

From Scientific American

Image: Ford Ford and Olfiction, Ford’s fragrance partner on Mach-Eau, says aside from reminding you of gasoline, the fragrance contains notes reminiscent of almondy benzaldehyde, a smell associated with car interiors, and para-Cresol, which provides the rubber smell of tires.

From The Verge

The prevalence of benzaldehyde in artificial cherry formations is “not so true of actual cherries,” said Mr. Wright.

From New York Times