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View synonyms for formaldehyde

formaldehyde

[ fawr-mal-duh-hahyd, fer- ]

noun

, Chemistry.
  1. a colorless, toxic, potentially carcinogenic, water-soluble gas, CH 2 O, having a suffocating odor, usually derived from methyl alcohol by oxidation: used chiefly in aqueous solution, as a disinfectant and preservative, and in the manufacture of various resins and plastics.


formaldehyde

/ fɔːˈmældɪˌhaɪd /

noun

  1. a colourless poisonous irritating gas with a pungent characteristic odour, made by the oxidation of methanol and used as formalin and in the manufacture of synthetic resins. Formula: HCHO Systematic namemethanal
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


formaldehyde

/ fôr-măldə-hīd′ /

  1. A colorless gas having a sharp, suffocating odor. It is used in making plastics and, when dissolved in a solution of water and methanol, to preserve biological specimens. Chemical formula: CH 2 O.


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Word History and Origins

Origin of formaldehyde1

1870–75; form(ic) + aldehyde; modeled on German Formaldehyd
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Word History and Origins

Origin of formaldehyde1

C19: form ( ic ) + aldehyde ; on the model of German Formaldehyd
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Compare Meanings

How does formaldehyde compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

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Example Sentences

Made with poliovirus that had been treated with formaldehyde, the virus could no longer cause harm, but the body could still mount an immune response against it.

An aged mobile home can be rife with toxic VOCs, including formaldehyde.

This material contains chemicals including formaldehyde, which has been shown to significantly worsen indoor air quality.

From Time

They transcend the cutting of flesh under the stench of formaldehyde.

The setup also breaks down the asthma-inducing formaldehyde that seeps out of some building materials and cleaning products.

In the raids that accompanied the arrests, police also found jars filled with formaldehyde containing severed fingers.

Damien Hirst suspended sharks and cows in formaldehyde, but Tracey Emin had “the bed.”

In the formaldehyde vitrine, the shirtless dancer meets a fellow prey.

However studies have found dangerous compounds like benzene and formaldehyde in inhaled or secondhand vapor.

Any idea why it tasted like some combination of radiator fluid and formaldehyde?

Of the former, salt and sugar are examples; of the latter, formaldehyde and possibly benzoic acid.

The substances commonly used are carbolic acid, formalin or formaldehyde, lysol, and bichloride of mercury.

Formaldehyde, boric acid or salicylic acid may be added to preserve the milk.

A violet coloration at the union of the two liquids indicates the presence of formaldehyde.

If formaldehyde is present there will be a crimson zone at the plane of union of the solutions.

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formal causeformal equivalence