benzoin 1
/ben"zoh in, -zoyn, ben zoh"in/ , n.
1. Also called gum benjamin, gum benzoin . a reddish-brown, aromatic balsamic resin occurring in almondlike fragments and having a vanillalike odor, obtained from trees of the genus Styrax, esp. S. benzoin, of Java, Sumatra, etc.: used in the manufacture of perfume and cosmetics and in medicine internally as an expectorant and externally as an antiseptic.
2. Also called benjamin, benjamin-bush . any plant belonging to the genus Lindera ( Benzoin ), of the laurel family, including the spicebush and similar aromatic plants.
[ 1550-60; earlier benjoin beijoim and Sp benjuí luban jawi frankincense of Java ( lu- prob. constructed as the definite article); z of benzoin benzoi ]
benzoin 2
/ben"zoh in, -zoyn, ben zoh"in/ , n. Chem.
a white, slightly water-soluble powder, C 14 H 12 O 2 , derived by the condensation of benzaldehyde in the presence of potassium cyanide, and used in organic synthesis.
[ BENZO- + -IN 2 ]