limonene
/ˈlɪməniːn
/noun [mass noun] Chemistry
A colourless liquid hydrocarbon with a lemon-like scent, present in lemon oil, orange oil, and similar essential oils.
- A terpene; chemical formula: C10H16.
- Industry currently uses limonene as a scent in household cleaners but might one day be used as the raw material for making the plastic bottle itself.
- Lemons, limes and oranges contain limonene, a substance that breaks down precursors to skin and breast cancers while stimulating the production of cancer-killing immune cells.
Origin
Early 20th century: from German Limonen, from Limone 'lemon', + -ene.
- aspirator
- aspire
- aspirin
- aspiring
- (as) pissed as a newt (or fart)
- (as) plain as a pikestaff
- as plain as the nose on someone's face
- (as) pleased as Punch
- as pleased (or proud) as Punch
- (as) poor as a church mouse
- asportation
- a sprat to catch a mackerel
- asprawl
- (as) pretty as a picture
- asp viper
- a square deal
- a square peg in a round hole
- (as) quick as a flash
- (as) quiet as a mouse (or lamb)
- (as) quiet as the grave
- asquint
- Asquith, Herbert Henry
- as rare (or scarce) as hen's teeth
- (as) red as a beetroot (beet)
- as regards