Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Pyridine
Pyr′i-dine
,Noun.
[From Gr. [GREEK] fire.]
(Physiol. Chem.)
A nitrogenous base,
C5H5N
, obtained from the distillation of bone oil or coal tar, and by the decomposition of certain alkaloids, as a colorless liquid with a peculiar pungent odor. It is the nucleus of a large number of organic substances, among which several vegetable alkaloids, as nicotine and certain of the ptomaïnes, may be mentioned. See Lutidine
.