almond oil

A fixed oil expressed from sweet almonds, the kernels of varieties of Prunus amygdalus; used in ointments.

- bitter almond oil a volatile oil from the dried ripe kernels of bitter almonds and from other kernels containing amygdalin; it contains between 2 and 4% of hydrocyanic acid and 95% of benzaldehyde.

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almond oil n

1 a) a colorless or pale yellow bland and nearly odorless nondrying fatty oil expressed from sweet or bitter almonds and used as an emollient in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics called also expressed almond oil, sweet almond oil

b) a colorless to yellow essential oil owing its characteristic odor and flavor to benzaldehyde and its toxicity to hydrocyanic acid that is obtained from bitter almonds and is used in medicine as an emollient and after removal of the hydrocyanic acid as a flavoring agent called also bitter almond oil

2) any of several essential oils very similar in properties and uses to bitter almond oil and obtained from amygdalin-containing kernels (as of the peach or apricot) other than almonds called also bitter almond oil

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[NF] 1. a preparation of the fixed oil obtained by expression from the seed of Prunus dulcis (the almond), used as an emollient, perfume, and oleaginous vehicle. It may be derived from either P. dulcis var. dulcis, (the sweet almond) or P. dulcis var. amara (the bitter almond). It is not the same as the volatile oil distilled from the bitter almond; see 2. bitter almond o. (def. 2). Called also expressed almond o. bitter almond o. (def. 2).