paraformaldehyde

[ par-uh-fawr-mal-duh-hahyd, -fer- ]
/ ˌpær ə fɔrˈmæl dəˌhaɪd, -fər- /

noun Chemistry.

a white, crystalline polymer of formaldehyde, (HCOH)n, from which it is obtained by evaporation of the aqueous solution: used chiefly as an antiseptic.
Also called par·a·form [par-uh-fawrm] /ˈpær əˌfɔrm/.

Origin of paraformaldehyde

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

Example sentences from the Web for paraform

British Dictionary definitions for paraform

paraformaldehyde

paraform

/ (ˌpærəfɔːˈmældɪˌhaɪd) /

noun

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