- benzoin
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benzoin1
/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 < MF < Pg beijoim and Sp benjuí < Ar luban jawi frankincense of Java (lu- prob. constructed as the definite article); z of benzoin < It benzoi Ar]benzoin2/ben"zoh in, -zoyn, ben zoh"in/, n. Chem.a white, slightly water-soluble powder, C14H12O2, derived by the condensation of benzaldehyde in the presence of potassium cyanide, and used in organic synthesis.[BENZO- + -IN2]
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Universalium. 2010.