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CITRONELLA

 - 6 dictionary results

cit⋅ron⋅el⋅la

[si-truh-nel-uh]
–noun
1. a fragrant grass, Cymbopogon nardus, of southern Asia, cultivated as the source of citronella oil.
2. citronella oil.

Origin:
1855–60; < NL < F citronelle, equiv. to citron citron + -elle dim. suffix

citronella oil

–noun
a light-yellowish pungent oil, distilled from citronella, used in the manufacture of liniment, perfume, and soap, and as an insect repellent.
Also called citronella.


Origin:
1880–85
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To CITRONELLA
cit·ro·nel·la   (sĭt'rə-něl'ə)   
n.  
  1. A tropical Asian grass (Cymbopogon nardus) having bluish-green, lemon-scented leaves and an essential oil.

  2. A pale yellow to brownish aromatic oil obtained from this plant, used chiefly in perfumery and also in some insect repellents and commercial flavorings.


[New Latin, from French citronnelle, lemon oil, diminutive of citron, citron; see citron.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

citronella 
1858, from Fr. citronelle "lemon liquor," from citron (see citrus). Originally an Asiatic grass used in perfumes, later applied to a substance found in lemon oil, etc.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: cit·ro·nel·la
Pronunciation: "si-tr&-'nel-&
Function: noun
1 : CITRONELLA OIL
2 : a fragrant grass (Cymbopogon nardus) of southern Asia that yields citronellaoil

Main Entry: citronella oil
Function: noun
: a yellowish essential oil with a lemony odor obtained from either of two grasses and used especially as an insect repellent: a : an oil from citronella grass containing chiefly geraniol b : an oil from a related grass (Cymbopogon winterianus) containing citronellal, citronellol, andgeraniol
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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