thymol

[ thahy-mohl, -mawl ]
/ ˈθaɪ moʊl, -mɔl /

noun Chemistry, Pharmacology.

a colorless, crystalline, slightly water-soluble solid, C10H14O, having a pungent, aromatic taste and odor, obtained from the oil distilled from thyme or prepared synthetically: used chiefly in perfumery, embalming, preserving biological specimens, and in medicine as a fungicide and antiseptic.
Also called thyme camphor, thymic acid [tahy-mik] /ˈtaɪ mɪk/.

Origin of thymol

First recorded in 1855–60; thyme + -ol2

Example sentences from the Web for thymol

British Dictionary definitions for thymol

thymol
/ (ˈθaɪmɒl) /

noun

a white crystalline substance with an aromatic odour, obtained from the oil of thyme and used as a fungicide, antiseptic, and anthelmintic and in perfumery and embalming; 2-isopropylphenol. Formula: (CH 3) 2 CHC 6 H 3 (CH 3)OH

Word Origin for thymol

C19: from thyme + -ol ²

Medical definitions for thymol

thymol
[ thīmôl′, -mōl′ ]

n.

A white crystalline aromatic compound derived from thyme oil and other oils or made synthetically and used as an antiseptic, a fungicide, and a preservative.