Menthol

3 definitions found

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

  menthol \men"thol\, n. [Mentha + -ol.] (Chem.)
     A white, crystalline, aromatic substance ({C10H20O})
     resembling camphor, extracted from oil of peppermint
     ({Mentha}); -- called also {mint camphor} or {peppermint
     camphor}. It has the peculiar effect on skin and membranes of
     making them feel cool, and is used in liqueurs, confections,


     cigarettes, cough drops and perfumes, among other things.
     [1913 Webster +PJC]

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

  Camphor \Cam"phor\ (k[a^]m"f[~e]r), n. [OE. camfere, F. camphre
     (cf. It. canfora, Sp. camfora, alcanfor, LL. canfora,
     camphora, NGr. kafoyra`), fr. Ar. k[=a]f[=u]r, prob. fr. Skr.
     karp[=u]ra.]
     1. A tough, white, aromatic resin, or gum, obtained from
        different species of the {Laurus} family, esp. from
        {Cinnamomum camphara} (the {Laurus camphora} of
        Linn[ae]us.). Camphor, {C10H16O}, is volatile and
        fragrant, and is used in medicine as a diaphoretic, a
        stimulant, or sedative.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. originally, a gum resembling ordinary camphor, obtained
        from a tree ({Dryobalanops aromatica} formerly
        {Dryobalanops camphora}) growing in Sumatra and Borneo;
        now applied to its main constituent, a terpene alcohol
        obtainable as a white solid {C10H18O}, called also {Borneo
        camphor}, {Malay camphor}, {Malayan camphor}, {camphor of
        Borneo}, {Sumatra camphor}, {bornyl alcohol}, {camphol},
        and {borneol}. The isomer from {Dryobalanops} is
        dextrorotatory; the levoratatory form is obtainable from
        other species of plants, and the racemic mixture may be
        obtained by reduction of camphor. It is used in perfumery,
        and for manufacture of its esters. See {Borneol}.
        [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
     Note: The name camphor is also applied to a number of bodies
           of similar appearance and properties, as {cedar
           camphor}, obtained from the red or pencil cedar
           ({Juniperus Virginiana}), and {peppermint camphor}, or
           {menthol}, obtained from the oil of peppermint.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     {Camphor oil} (Chem.), name variously given to certain
        oil-like products, obtained especially from the camphor
        tree.
  
     {Camphor tree}, a large evergreen tree ({Cinnamomum
        Camphora}) with lax, smooth branches and shining
        triple-nerved lanceolate leaves, probably native in China,
        but now cultivated in most warm countries. Camphor is
        collected by a process of steaming the chips of the wood
        and subliming the product.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  menthol
       n : a lotion containing menthol which gives it a mint flavoring