chloral: Meaning and Definition of

chlo•ral

Pronunciation: (klôr'ul, klōr'-), [key]
  1. Also calleda colorless, oily liquid, CClHO, having a pungent odor, usually derived by the chlorination of ethyl alcohol or of acetaldehyde and combining with water to form chloral hydrate.
  2. a white, crystalline solid, CHClO, formed by combining liquid chloral with water: used as a hypnotic.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.