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aniline

Pronunciation: /ˈanɪliːn, -lɪn/

Definition of aniline

noun

[mass noun] Chemistry

a colourless oily liquid present in coal tar. It is used in the manufacture of dyes, drugs, and plastics, and was the basis of the earliest synthetic dyes.
- Chemical formula: C₆H₅NH₂

Origin:

mid 19th century: from anil 'indigo' (from which it was originally obtained), via French and Portuguese from Arabic an-nīl (from Sanskrit nīlī, from nīla 'dark blue')