formaldehyde Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a colorless poisonous gas; made by the oxidation of methanol
    methanal.

WordNet

For*mal"de*hyde noun
Etymology
Formic + aldehyde.
Definitions
  1. (Chem.) A colorless, volatile liquid, H2CO, resembling acetic or ethyl aldehyde, and chemically intermediate between methyl alcohol and formic acid.

Webster 1913