First Known Use: 1821
Dictionary
naphthalene
noun naph·tha·lene \-ˌlēn\
Definition of NAPHTHALENE
: a crystalline aromatic hydrocarbon C10H8 usually obtained by distillation of coal tar and used especially in organic synthesis
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Origin of NAPHTHALENE
alteration of earlier naphthaline, irregular from naphtha
Medical Dictionary
naphthalene
noun naph·tha·lene \-ˌlēn\
Medical Definition of NAPHTHALENE
: a crystalline aromatic hydrocarbon C10H8 usually obtained by distillation of coal tar and used especially in organic synthesis and formerly as a topical and intestinal antiseptic
—naph·tha·len·ic \ˌnaf-thə-ˈlen-ik, ˌnap-, -ˈlēn-\ adjective
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