Word Study
aniline
CIDE DICTIONARY
aniline, n. [See Anil.].
An organic base belonging to the phenylamines. It may be regarded as ammonia in which one hydrogen atom has been replaced by the radical phenyl. It is a colorless, oily liquid, originally obtained from indigo by distillation, but now largely manufactured from coal tar or nitrobenzene as a base from which many brilliant dyes are made. [1913 Webster]
aniline, a.
Made from, or of the nature of, aniline. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
aniline, n. a colourless oily liquid, used in the manufacture of dyes, drugs, and plastics.
Idiom
aniline dye
1 any of numerous dyes made from aniline.
2 any synthetic dye.
1 any of numerous dyes made from aniline.
2 any synthetic dye.
Etymology
G Anilin f. Anil indigo (from which it was orig. obtained), ult. f. Arab. an-nil
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