Definition of "chloral" [chlo•ral]

• A colorless, mobile, oily aldehyde, CCl3CHO, a penetrating lung irritant, used to manufacture DDT and chloral hydrate. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "JEAN CASAREZ, COURT TV: The medical examiner says that she was taking a liquid sleeping medication called chloral hydrate in combination with anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs that she was taking."
• "The thought of the chloral was the only spot of light in the dark prospect: she could feel its lulling influence stealing over her already."
• "No sooner had they left the room and locked me in than I tried so see how far down my throat my finger would go, and the chloral was allowed to try its effect elsewhere."