volatile oil

noun

a distilled oil, especially one obtained from plant tissue, as distinguished from glyceride oils by their volatility and failure to saponify.

volatile oil

First recorded in 1790–1800

A volatile oil, used to keep away insects from textiles, is obtained from the leaves.

The volatile oil of this plant has similar properties to A. citratum.

The flowers yield a volatile oil resembling that of turpentine.

(b) How may onions be peeled so as to keep off the fumes of their volatile oil?

The strong, typical flavor that characterizes bananas is due to the volatile oil they contain.

Browse