Cinnamate

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A compound derived from cinnamic acid used in flavorings and fragrances; a chemical known for its aromatic ester properties and applications in organic synthesis; a substance often found in perfumes, sunscreen agents, and as a precursor in various chemical reactions
2. An ester or salt form of cinnamic acid functioning as a fragrant ingredient and intermediate in biochemical processes; a molecule recognized for its aromatic character and use in flavor and scent industries; a chemical compound employed in formulations for its UV-absorbing capacity and pleasant smell
3. A derivative of cinnamic acid employed primarily in the aroma and flavoring sectors; a biochemical entity utilized in the manufacture of sunscreen agents and fragrances; an organic compound featuring an unsaturated aromatic moiety used in diverse chemical syntheses

Etymology: Cinnamate is a chemical coinage built from two existing words. Cinnamic acid takes its name from cinnamon, the spice, since it occurs in cinnamon oil and in the resin of cinnamon-related plants. The "-ate" ending is the standard chemistry suffix that marks a salt or ester formed from an acid, so cinnamate is the name for the family of compounds derived from that acid. The result is a word that hides a spice inside a chemical name. Anyone who has tasted cinnamon has tasted a compound whose name is built on the same root, though the spice itself is a mixture of many molecules rather than a single cinnamate. The word's sense shifted from simply naming a substance to naming a whole class of molecules used in scents, flavors, and sunscreens.

Synonyms: cinnamic acid ester, cinnamic acid salt