paraformaldehyde

[ par-uh-fawr-mal-duh-hahyd, -fer- ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a white, crystalline polymer of formaldehyde, (HCOH) n , from which it is obtained by evaporation of the aqueous solution: used chiefly as an antiseptic.

paraformaldehyde

/ ˌpærəfɔːˈmældɪˌhaɪd /

noun

1. a white amorphous solid polymeric form of formaldehyde: used as a convenient source of formaldehyde and as a fumigant. Formula: (CH 2 O) n , where n lies between 6 and 50

Word History and Origins

Origin of paraformaldehyde¹

First recorded in 1930–35; para- ¹ + formaldehyde