: a pungent colorless oily aldehyde CCl3CHO used in making DDT and chloral hydrate
2
: chloral hydrate
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebIn poor health and afflicted with chronic insomnia, Waugh took nightly sleeping draughts of bromide and chloral, washed down with crème de menthe. Christopher Buckley, WSJ, 2 Sep. 2022
Word History
Etymology
French, from chlor- + alcool alcohol
First Known Use
1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing chloral
chloral hydrate
chloral hydrate
Medical Definition
chloral
noun
chlo·ral ˈklōr-əl, ˈklȯr-
1
: a pungent colorless oily aldehyde C2HCl3O used in making DDT and chloral hydrate