thujone

1 9.9

A chemical found in some plants like wormwood and in absinthe

noun
/ˈθuːdʒoʊn/

Specialized

: tujona

Thujone is a key chemical compound found in absinthe, which is made from wormwood.

Examples

Most types of absinthe contain extremely high amounts of ethanol and a chemical called thujone, both of which can cause brain cell death.

Blog text (17)
In small amounts, thujone contributes to absinthe's unique flavor and aroma.
Some herbal remedies include plants with thujone, highlighting its importance in traditional medicine.

Surface Forms

thujone singular

thujones plural

Morphology

thujone = thuja (opaque) = thuj + one

Formed from the botanical name 'Thuja' plus the chemical suffix '-one'; both elements are technical and not helpful to an average learner in deriving the meaning.

Etymology

Thujone comes from the plant name Thuja, which itself comes from a Greek word meaning 'scented wood'. So, thujone is the strong-smelling chemical found in some plants like wormwood, and that is why it is famous for being in absinthe.