a white or yellowish crystalline heterocyclic compound extracted from coal tar and used in perfumery, medicine, and as a flavouring agent; 1-benzopyrrole. Formula: C8H7N
Word origin
C19: from ind(igo) + -ole1
indole in American English
(ˈɪnˌdoʊl)
noun
a white, crystalline compound, C8H7N, obtained from indigo and other sources and formed as a product of the intestinal putrefaction of proteins: it is used in perfumery, as a reagent, etc.