paraldehyde

2 definitions found

paraldehyde - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Paraldehyde \Par*al"de*hyde\, n. [Pref. para- + aldehyde.]
     (Chem.)
     A trimer of acetaldehyde (C6H12O3), prepared by
     polymerization of acetaldehyde with hydrochloric and sulfuric
     acids. It has sedative and hypnotic properties. --MI11
     [PJC]

paraldehyde - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  paraldehyde
      n 1: a colorless liquid (a cyclic trimer of acetaldehyde) that
           is used as a sedative and a solvent [syn: paraldehyde,
           ethanal trimer]