Word
formaldehyde
Phoneticsformalde·hyde
US/fɝˈmæɫdəˌhaɪd/
UK/fɔːmˈældɪhˌaɪd/
Definition
n. a clear, colorless gas with a very strong, sharp smell. It is used to preserve dead bodies and to make wood and paper stronger.
n. a colorless, pungent, flammable gas with a molecular formula of CH₂O. It is widely used as a preservative and a chemical intermediate in the production of resins and plastics.
Examples
“The doctor used formaldehyde to preserve the tissue samples.”
“Workers in the furniture factory must wear protective masks to avoid inhaling formaldehyde fumes.”
“While formaldehyde is an essential component in the production of many synthetic materials, its release into the atmosphere remains a significant concern for environmental health and safety regulations.”
Examples
simple
“The doctor used formaldehyde to preserve the tissue samples.”
contextual
“Workers in the furniture factory must wear protective masks to avoid inhaling formaldehyde fumes.”
complex
“While formaldehyde is an essential component in the production of many synthetic materials, its release into the atmosphere remains a significant concern for environmental health and safety regulations.”
Real-World Examples
“Among the chemicals detected were hormone disruptors and carcinogens such as phthalates, parabens, Pfas and formaldehyde.” “The NAACP alleged that the gas plant released harmful pollutants , such as nitrogen oxides and formaldehyde, which can increase rates of asthma, respiratory diseases, heart problems and certain cancers.” Etymology
From form(yl) + aldehyde.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/formaldehyde