acrolein Hear it!

acrolein definition

acro·lein (ə krōlē in)

noun

a yellowish or colorless, acrid liquid, CH:CHCHO, whose fumes irritate the eyes: it is formed by the decomposition of glycerol and is used in organic synthesis and in plastics, poison gas, etc.

Etymology: acr(id) + L olere, to smell + -in

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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