coumarin

noun

cou·​ma·​rin ˈkü-mə-rən How to pronounce coumarin (audio)
: a toxic white crystalline lactone C9H6O2 with an odor of new-mown hay found in plants or made synthetically and used especially in perfumery and as a parent compound in anticoagulant agents
also : a derivative of this compound

Examples of coumarin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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But Quattrocchi, who was not affiliated with the study, warned that coumarin can cause liver damage with excessive use. Amy McGorry, FOXNews.com, 12 May 2025 Ceylon cinnamon may also have trace amounts of coumarin. Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 8 May 2025 Ageratum is an annual flower that secretes coumarin (used in commercial mosquito repellents), which has an odor that mosquitoes can’t stand. Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2024 Alongside is a sidecar of vanilla-tonka bean maple syrup, heady with the almond-y, fresh-hay scent of coumarin — a naturally occurring chemical in the seeds of the kumaru tree. Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024 In any case, chamomile flowers—which look like adorable, tiny daisies—contain flavonoids, terpenoids, and coumarins which certainly have mildly sedative, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic properties. Valentina Bottoni, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2024 Some cassia cinnamon products contain high levels of coumarin, a substance that can be harmful to the liver. Johna Burdeos, Health, 21 Oct. 2024 This is due to the spice's high concentration of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds like coumarin, cinnamic acid, cinnamaldehyde, and eugenol.19 Cinnamon tea can be made with ground cinnamon or cinnamon sticks. Jillian Kubala, Health, 16 July 2024 Sweet, vanilla-scented coumarin is found in cinnamon. Popular Science, 31 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

French coumarine, from coumarou tonka bean tree, from Spanish or Portuguese; Spanish cumarú, from Portuguese, from Tupi *kumarú, *kumbarú

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of coumarin was in 1830

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Coumarin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coumarin. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

Medical Definition

coumarin

noun
cou·​ma·​rin ˈkü-mə-rən How to pronounce coumarin (audio)
: a toxic white crystalline lactone C9H6O2 with an odor of new-mown hay found in plants or made synthetically and used especially in perfumery and as the parent compound in various anticoagulant agents (as warfarin)
also : a derivative of this compound

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