a yellow volatile liquid with a lemon-like odour, found in oils of lemon grass, orange, and lemon and used in perfumery: a terpene aldehyde consisting of the cis- isomer (citral-a or geranial) and the trans- isomer (citral-b or neral). Formula: (CH3)2C:CH(CH2)2C(CH3):CHCHO
Word origin
C19: from citr(us) + -al3
citral in American English
(ˈsɪtrəl)
noun
a liquid aldehyde, C9H15·CHO, with a pleasant odor, found in oil of lemon, oil of lime, etc. and used as a flavoring agent and in perfumes