Acrolein

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Acrolein \A*cro"le*in\, n. [L. acer sharp + ol[=e]re to smell.]
     (Chem.)
     A limpid, colorless, highly volatile liquid, obtained by the
     dehydration of glycerin, or the destructive distillation of
     neutral fats containing glycerin. Its vapors are intensely
     irritating. --Watts.


     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  acrolein
       n : a pungent colorless unsaturated liquid aldehyde made from
           propene [syn: {propenal}]