Definition

A fragrant compound that can be found in certain plants or made artificially, often used in perfumes and some medicines.

Example

The perfume contained a hint of coumarin, giving it a sweet, hay-like scent.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of coumarin?

Yeah, it's that compound that smells like fresh hay, right?

Exactly! It's used a lot in perfumes and even in some food products.

That's interesting! I had no idea it was so versatile.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Coumarin originates from the French word 'coumarine', which is derived from 'coumarou' (meaning tonka bean) in the Tupi language, referring to the plant from which it is derived. The word describes a fragrant compound found in tonka beans and other plants.

Memory Tip

Think of the French word 'coumarine' which relates to the tonka bean, a source of the fragrant compound coumarin.

Visually Confused Words