DictionaryRoot: formica
Latin
formica
ant
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noun
formaldehyde
for-MAL-duh-hyde/fɔːrˈmældɪhaɪd/
A strong-smelling chemical used to make resins and preserve biological tissue.
Etymology
The name contracts “formic aldehyde”: its “ant” element comes through formic acid, once prepared by distilling ants. Aldehyde denotes an alcohol oxidation product, here the pungent gas obtained from methyl alcohol.