aldehyde
noun
al·de·hyde
ˈal-də-ˌhīd 
: acetaldehyde
broadly
: any of a class of highly reactive organic compounds that are analogous to acetaldehyde and characterized by a carbonyl group attached to a hydrogen atom
Examples of aldehyde in a Sentence
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These compounds—including flavonoids and phenolic aldehydes—are especially abundant in the peels, stems, and leaves.
—
Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 13 Apr. 2026
Ryan Alam, a chemist at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Germany, and his colleagues found that the larvae attract bees by emitting a collection of 17 scented compounds often found in flowers, including linalool oxide and lilac aldehyde.
—Chris Simms, Scientific American, 12 Apr. 2026
At first spray, Dune starts off strong with crisp Brazilian rosewood, soapy aldehydes, and citrus bled of Madarin orange and bergamot.
—Rebecca Norris, InStyle, 11 Apr. 2026
Specifically, the study found the PATM patients emitted more petrochemicals, organosulfur compounds, and some aldehydes (including 39 times the normal amount of toluene, a chemical found in crude oil), among other distinctions—findings published in the scholarly journal Scientific Reports in 2023.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aldehyde
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Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 13 Apr. 2026
Ryan Alam, a chemist at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Germany, and his colleagues found that the larvae attract bees by emitting a collection of 17 scented compounds often found in flowers, including linalool oxide and lilac aldehyde.
—Chris Simms, Scientific American, 12 Apr. 2026
At first spray, Dune starts off strong with crisp Brazilian rosewood, soapy aldehydes, and citrus bled of Madarin orange and bergamot.
—Rebecca Norris, InStyle, 11 Apr. 2026
Specifically, the study found the PATM patients emitted more petrochemicals, organosulfur compounds, and some aldehydes (including 39 times the normal amount of toluene, a chemical found in crude oil), among other distinctions—findings published in the scholarly journal Scientific Reports in 2023.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aldehyde
Cite this Entry
“Aldehyde.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aldehyde. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
aldehyde
noun
al·de·hyde
ˈal-də-ˌhīd
: acetaldehyde
broadly
: any of various highly reactive compounds typified by acetaldehyde and characterized by the group CHO
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