pyridine Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a toxic colorless flammable liquid organic base with a disagreeable odor; usually derived from coal

WordNet

Pyr"i*dine noun
Etymology
From Gr. fire.
Definitions
  1. (Physiol. Chem.) A nitrogenous base, C5H5N, obtained from the distillation of bone oil or coal tar, and by the decomposition of certain alkaloids, as a colorless liquid with a peculiar pungent odor. It is the nucleus of a large number of organic substances, among which several vegetable alkaloids, as nicotine and certain of the ptomaïnes, may be mentioned. See Lutidine.

Webster 1913