formaldehyde

form·al·de·hyde

noun \fȯr-ˈmal-də-ˌhīd, fər-\

Definition of FORMALDEHYDE

: a colorless pungent irritating gas CH₂O used chiefly in aqueous solution as a disinfectant and preservative and in chemical synthesis

Origin of FORMALDEHYDE

International Scientific Vocabulary form- + aldehyde

First Known Use: 1872

Rhymes with FORMALDEHYDE

by the wayside, dissatisfied, fit to be tied, infanticide, initial side, insecticide, interallied, preoccupied, rodenticide, self-satisfied, terminal side, thalidomide, Trinitytide, tyrannicide, uxoricide

form·al·de·hyde

noun \fȯr-ˈmal-də-ˌhīd, fər-\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of FORMALDEHYDE

: a colorless pungent irritating gas CH₂O used chiefly as a disinfectant and preservative and in chemical synthesis

formaldehyde

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Simplest aldehyde, chemical formula HCHO. Formaldehyde (37%) in water solution, called formalin, is used as a preservative, an embalming agent, and a disinfectant. Large amounts of formaldehyde are used in the manufacture of various familiar plastics. Bakelite (the first completely synthetic plastic) is the trademark for formaldehyde and phenol polymer, and Formica is the trademark for formaldehyde and urea polymer. The reaction of formaldehyde with proteins (called amino formylation) leads to its use in the tanning industry and for treating various vegetable proteins to render them fibrous.

Variants of FORMALDEHYDE

formaldehyde or methanal