acrolein

[ uh-kroh-lee-in ]
/ əˈkroʊ li ɪn /

noun Chemistry.

a yellow, flammable liquid, C3H4O, having a stifling odor, usually obtained by the decomposition of glycerol: used chiefly in the synthesis of commercial and pharmaceutical products.
Also called acraldehyde, acrylaldehyde, acrylic aldehyde.

Origin of acrolein

1855–60; < Latin ācr- (stem of ācer) sharp + olē(re) to smell + -in2

Example sentences from the Web for acrolein

British Dictionary definitions for acrolein

acrolein
/ (əˈkrəʊlɪɪn) /

noun

a colourless or yellowish flammable poisonous pungent liquid used in the manufacture of resins and pharmaceuticals. Formula: CH 2 :CHCHO

Word Origin for acrolein

C19: from Latin ācer sharp + olēre to smell + -in