paraldehyde

[ puh-ral-duh-hahyd ]
/ pəˈræl dəˌhaɪd /

noun Chemistry, Pharmacology.

a colorless, liquid, cyclic compound, C6H12O3, having a disagreeable taste but an agreeable odor, produced by the polymerization of acetaldehyde with sulfuric acid: used chiefly in the manufacture of organic chemicals and in medicine as a sedative and hypnotic.
Also called paracetaldehyde.

Origin of paraldehyde

First recorded in 1855–60; par- + aldehyde

Example sentences from the Web for paraldehyde

British Dictionary definitions for paraldehyde

paraldehyde
/ (pəˈrældɪˌhaɪd) /

noun

a colourless liquid substance that is a cyclic trimer of acetaldehyde: used in making dyestuffs and as a hypnotic and anticonvulsant drug. Formula: (C 2 H 4 O) 3

Medical definitions for paraldehyde

paraldehyde
[ pə-răldə-hīd′ ]

n.

A potent hypnotic and sedative suitable for oral, rectal, intravenous, and intramuscular administration. paracetaldehyde