formaldehyde
[ fawr-mal-duh-hahyd, fer- ]
/ fɔrˈmæl dəˌhaɪd, fər- /
noun Chemistry.
a colorless, toxic, potentially carcinogenic, water-soluble gas, CH2O, having a suffocating odor, usually derived from methyl alcohol by oxidation: used chiefly in aqueous solution, as a disinfectant and preservative, and in the manufacture of various resins and plastics.
Also called
methanal.
Compare
formalin.
Words nearby formaldehyde
formal equivalence,
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formalin,
formalin pigment,
formalism,
formality,
formalize
Example sentences from the Web for formaldehyde
British Dictionary definitions for formaldehyde
formaldehyde
/ (fɔːˈmældɪˌhaɪd) /
noun
a colourless poisonous irritating gas with a pungent characteristic odour, made by the oxidation of methanol and used as formalin and in the manufacture of synthetic resins. Formula: HCHO
Systematic name: methanal
Word Origin for formaldehyde
C19:
form (
ic) +
aldehyde; on the model of German
Formaldehyd
Medical definitions for formaldehyde
formaldehyde
[ fôr-măl′də-hīd′ ]
n.
A colorless, gaseous compound that is the simplest aldehyde, used for manufacturing melamine and phenolic resins, fertilizers, dyes, and embalming fluids and in aqueous solution as a preservative and disinfectant.
Scientific definitions for formaldehyde
formaldehyde
[ fôr-măl′də-hīd′ ]
A colorless gas having a sharp, suffocating odor. It is used in making plastics and, when dissolved in a solution of water and methanol, to preserve biological specimens. Chemical formula: CH2O.