hīˈdantəwə̇n noun
( -s )
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary hyd rogen + all antoin; probably originally formed in German
1. : a crystalline weakly acidic compound C 3 H 4 N 2 O 2 that is a di-oxo derivative of imidazole with a sweetish taste that is found in beet juice and made synthetically (as by the action of hydriodic acid on allantoin), and that is used in organic synthesis
2. : a derivative of the hydantoin compound (as diphenylhydantoin)