styrene
[ stahy-reen, steer-een ]
/ ˈstaɪ rin, ˈstɪər in /
noun Chemistry.
a colorless, water-insoluble liquid, C8H8, having a penetrating aromatic odor, usually prepared from ethylene and benzene or ethylbenzene, that polymerizes to a clear transparent material and copolymerizes with other materials to form synthetic rubbers.
Compare
polystyrene.
Origin of styrene
Words nearby styrene
styptic pencil,
styr,
styracaceous,
styralyl acetate,
styrax,
styrene,
styrene resin,
styria,
styrofoam,
styron,
stythe
British Dictionary definitions for styrene
styrene
/ (ˈstaɪriːn) /
noun
a colourless oily volatile flammable water-insoluble liquid made from ethylene and benzene. It is an unsaturated compound and readily polymerizes: used in making synthetic plastics and rubbers. Formula: C 6 H 5 CH:CH 2
See also polystyrene
Word Origin for styrene
C20: from
styr (
ax) +
-ene
Medical definitions for styrene
styrene
[ stī′rēn′ ]
n.
A colorless oily liquid from which polystyrenes, plastics, and synthetic rubber are produced.
vinylbenzene
Scientific definitions for styrene
styrene
[ stī′rēn′ ]
A colorless, oily aromatic hydrocarbon that readily undergoes polymerization. It is used in making polystyrene, polyesters, synthetic rubber, and other products. Chemical formula: C8H8.