Dictionary
benz•al•de•hyde
Pronunciation: (ben-zal'du-hīd"), [key]—
n. Chem.
a colorless or yellowish, water-soluble, volatile oil, C
7H
6O, having a bitter, almondlike odor, used chiefly in the organic synthesis of dyes, perfumes, and flavors, and as a solvent; artificial oil of bitter almond. Also called
benzoic aldehyde. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.