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benzaldehyde

American  
[ben-zal-duh-hahyd] / bɛnˈzæl dəˌhaɪd /

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 British  
/ bɛnˈzældɪˌhaɪd /

noun

  1. Systematic name: benzenecarbaldehyde.  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

"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

benzaldehyde Scientific  
/ bĕn-zăldə-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.


Etymology

Origin of benzaldehyde

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Cranberries' flavor and aroma come from compounds in the fruit such as cinnamates that add cinnamon notes, vanillin for hints of vanilla, benzoates and benzaldehyde, which tastes like almonds.

From Salon • Nov. 25, 2024

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 • May 15, 2024

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 • Mar. 15, 2023

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

From Scientific American • Oct. 27, 2022

The enzyme maltase decomposes it into glucose and mandelic nitrile glucoside; the latter is broken down by emulsin into glucose, benzaldehyde and prussic acid.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 2 "Gloss" to "Gordon, Charles George" by Various