| almond | 1. The fruit of the almond tree. The different kinds, as bitter, sweet, thin-shelled, thick-shelled almonds, and Jordan almonds, are the products of different varieties of the one species, Amygdalus communis, a native of the Mediterranean region and western Asia. 2. The tree bears the fruit; almond tree. 3. Anything shaped like an almond. <anatomy> Specifically: One of the tonsils. Almond oil, fixed oil expressed from sweet or bitter almonds. Oil of bitter almonds, a poisonous volatile oil obtained from bitter almonds by maceration and distillation; benzoic aldehyde. Imitation oil of bitter almonds, nitrobenzene. <botany> Almond tree, a willow which has leaves that are of a light green on both sides; almond-leaved willow (Salix amygdalina). Origin: OE. Almande, almaunde, alemaunde, F. Amande, L. Amygdala, fr. Gr., cf. Sp. Almendra. Cf. Amygdalate. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| almond nucleus | Almond-shaped group of basal nuclei anterior to the inferior horn of the lateral ventricle of the brain, within the temporal lobe. The amygdala is part of the limbic system. (12 Dec 1998) |
| 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. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oil of bitter almond | Volatile oil from the dried ripe kernels of bitter almonds or from other kernels containing amygdalin, such as apricots, peaches, plums and cherries; obtained by steam distillation subsequent to maceration of the source with water. Formerly used as an antipruritic; poisonous-releases hydrocyanic acid (hydrogen cyanide). Only the oil free of hydrogen cyanide may be used to flavor liquors and foods. (05 Mar 2000) |
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