chloral

[ klawr-uhl ]

noun

1. Also called trichloroacetaldehyde, a colorless, oily liquid, C 2 Cl 3 HO, having a pungent odor, usually derived by the chlorination of ethyl alcohol or of acetaldehyde and combining with water to form chloral hydrate.
2. Also called chlo·ral hy·drate [klawr, -, uh, l , hahy, -dreyt]. Pharmacology. a white, crystalline solid, C 2 H 3 Cl 3 O 2 , formed by combining liquid chloral with water: used as a hypnotic.

chloral

/ ˈklɔːrəl /

noun

1. a colourless oily liquid with a pungent odour, made from chlorine and acetaldehyde and used in preparing chloral hydrate and DDT; trichloroacetaldehyde
2. short for chloral hydrate

Word History and Origins

Origin of chloral¹

First recorded in 1825–35; chlor- ² + -al ³

Example Sentences

In one email to an online pharmacy, Raymond wrote, “Hello, do you have chloral hydrate for insomnia?”

From Washington Times

In one email to an online pharmacy, Raymond wrote, “Hello, do you have chloral hydrate for insomnia?”

From Seattle Times

A bottle of chloral hydrate and bromides was nearby.

From Salon

A toxicology report revealed that Smith had ingested chloral hydrate, a sedative and hypnotic pharmaceutical drug, along with several prescription drugs, including Clonazepam, Lorazepam, Oxazepam and Valium.

From Salon

But prosecutors had additional evidence: Investigators had found traces of the heart medication digoxin in the body of one alleged victim and an overdose of the sedative chloral hydrate in another.

From Science Magazine