Naphthalene

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

naphthalene
    n 1: a white crystalline strong-smelling hydrocarbon made from
         coal tar or petroleum and used in organic synthesis and as
         a fumigant in mothballs

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Naphthalene \Naph"tha*lene\, n. (Chem.)
   A white crystalline aromatic hydrocarbon, {C10H8}, analogous
   to benzene, and obtained by the distillation of certain
   bituminous materials, such as the heavy oil of coal tar. It
   is the type and basis of a large number of derivatives among
   organic compounds. Formerly called also {naphthaline}.
   [1913 Webster]

   {Naphthalene red} (Chem.), a dyestuff obtained from certain
      diazo derivatives of naphthylamine, and called also
      {magdala red}.

   {Naphthalene yellow} (Chem.), a yellow dyestuff obtained from
      certain nitro derivatives of naphthol.
      [1913 Webster]