nitromethane

[ nahy-truh-meth-eyn ]
/ ˌnaɪ trəˈmɛθ eɪn /

noun Chemistry.

a colorless, oily, slightly water-soluble, poisonous liquid, CH3NO2, used chiefly as a solvent, rocket fuel, and gasoline additive and in organic synthesis.

Origin of nitromethane

First recorded in 1870–75; nitro- + methane

Words nearby nitromethane

nitrohydrochloric acid, nitrolic, nitromannitol, nitromersol, nitrometer, nitromethane, nitroparaffin, nitrophenol, nitrophilous, nitroprusside test, nitrosamine

British Dictionary definitions for nitromethane

nitromethane
/ (ˌnaɪtrəʊˈmiːθeɪn) /

noun

an oily colourless liquid obtained from methane and used as a solvent and rocket fuel and in the manufacture of synthetic resins. Formula: CH 3 NO 2