/si"treuhl/ , n. Chem.
a pale yellow, water-insoluble, liquid aldehyde, C 10 H 16 O, having a strong lemonlike odor, consisting in natural form of two isomers (citral a or geranial and citral b or neral) , usually obtained from the oils of lemon and orange or synthetically: used chiefly in perfumery, flavoring, and the synthesis of vitamin A.
[ 1890-95; CITR(US) + -AL 1 ]