1. A colorless or pale yellow crystalline compound derived from guaiac resin or wood tar, used in medicine and as a chemical intermediate.
Usage: chemistry; medicine

Examples

• Guaiacol is commonly used as an expectorant in cough medicines.
• The chemist isolated guaiacol from the guaiac wood extract.
• Guaiacol has antiseptic properties and was historically used in various medicinal preparations.
• Industrial production of guaiacol involves the methylation of catechol.
• The pharmaceutical industry relies on guaiacol as a precursor for synthesizing other compounds.