a colorless, water-soluble liquid, C8H8O3, produced synthetically or by maceration and subsequent distillation from birch or gaultheria: used chiefly in perfumery and flavoring, and in medicine as a counterirritant in external preparations.
Main Entry: methyl salicylate Function: noun : a liquid ester C8H8O3 that is obtained from the leaves of a wintergreen (Gaultheriaprocumbens) or the bark of a birch (Betula lenta), but is usually made synthetically, and that is used as a flavoring and as a counterirritant —see BIRCH OIL, OIL OF WINTERGREEN
