Obtained from vanilla and also prepared synthetically; a flavoring agent; used to detect ornithine, sugar alcohol s, phenols, and certain sterols.
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van·il·lin 'van-əl-ən n a crystalline phenolic aldehyde C8H8O3 that is prepared synthetically or is obtained as the chief fragrant component of vanilla extracted from vanilla beans and that is used esp. in flavoring and in perfumery
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va·nil·lin (və-nilґin) (vanґĭ-lin) [NF] a constituent of vanilla and other plants, which also may be prepared synthetically; used as a flavor in pharmaceutical preparations.Medical dictionary. 2011.