coumarin

cou·ma·rin | \ ˈkü-mə-rən

Definition of coumarin

: a toxic white crystalline lactone C₉H₆O₂ with an odor of new-mown hay found in plants or made synthetically and used especially in perfumery and as a parent compound in anticoagulant agents also : a derivative of this compound

Examples of coumarin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This latest version of the scent reportedly features top notes of lavender and bergamot, middle notes of jasmine, iris, and rose, and base notes of vanilla, sandalwood, coumarin, benzoin, licorice, and patchouli. — Marci Robin, Allure, "Nearly All of Angelina Jolie's Tattoos Are Visible in Her New Guerlain Perfume Ad," 4 Aug. 2019 Galium odoratum owes its sweet scent to the odiferous agent coumarin. — Earl Nickel, SFChronicle.com, "Sweet Woodruff makes an excellent ground cover in shade," 8 June 2018 Cassia can contain relatively high concentrations of coumarin, a plant compound that can damage the liver. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN, "Cinnamon: Pantry staple -- and medical powerhouse?," 8 Mar. 2018 Cassia sticks, which look like a thick layer of rolled bark, also contained 18 times more coumarin than Ceylon sticks, which have thin layers. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN, "Cinnamon: Pantry staple -- and medical powerhouse?," 8 Mar. 2018 Both cassia cinnamon and Saigon cinnamon contain coumarin, a natural compound that can harm the liver when taken in large amounts. — Teresa Graedon, The Seattle Times, "More news on blood sugar: Ceylon cinnamon can help," 21 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'coumarin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.