aniline
|an-i-line|
🇺🇸
/ˈænəˌliːn/
🇬🇧
/ˈænɪliːn/
aromatic amine (C6H5NH2)
Etymology
'aniline' originates from French, specifically the word 'aniline', via German 'Anilin' from Portuguese 'anil', where 'anil' (ultimately from Sanskrit 'nīla') meant 'indigo'.
'anil' (Portuguese) passed into German as 'Anilin', then into French as 'aniline', and eventually became the modern English word 'aniline'.
Initially, it referred to a substance obtained from indigo, but over time it came to denote the specific aromatic amine C6H5NH2 and things related to it.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a colorless, oily, toxic aromatic amine (C6H5NH2) derived from benzene; widely used as a precursor for dyes, pharmaceuticals, rubber-processing chemicals, and other organic compounds.
Aniline is a key precursor in the manufacture of polyurethane foams.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
of or relating to aniline or its derivatives.
Aniline dyes transformed textile coloration in the 19th century.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/11 11:07