aldehyde

[al-duh-hahyd] /ˈæl dəˌhaɪd/

noun, Chemistry

any of a class of organic compounds containing the group −CHO, which yields acids when oxidized and alcohols when reduced.

Origin

1840-50; < Neo-Latin al(cohol) dehyd(rogenātum) dehydrogenated alcohol

Related forms

aldehydic, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for aldehyde

aldehyde

/ˈældɪˌhaɪd/

noun

any organic compound containing the group -CHO. Aldehydes are oxidized to carboxylic acids and take part in many addition reactions

(modifier) consisting of, containing, or concerned with the group -CHO: aldehyde group or radical

Derived Forms

aldehydic (ˌældəˈhɪdɪk) adjective

Word Origin

C19: from New Latin al(cohol) dehyd(rogenātum) dehydrogenated alcohol

Word Origin and History for aldehyde

first oxidation product of alcohol, 1833, discovered in 1774 by German-born Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele (1742-1786), the name said to have been coined by German chemist Justus von Liebig (1803-1873) from abbreviation of Modern Latin alcohol dehydrogenatum "dehydrogenated alcohol."

aldehyde in Medicine

aldehyde al·de·hyde (āl'də-hīd')
n.

Any of a class of reactive organic chemical compounds obtained by oxidation of primary alcohols, characterized by the common group CHO, and used in the manufacture of resins, dyes, and organic acids.
See acetaldehyde.

aldehyde in Science

aldehyde

(āl'də-hīd')
Any of a class of highly reactive organic compounds obtained by oxidation of certain alcohols and containing the group CHO. Aldehydes are used in manufacturing resins, dyes, and organic acids.