toluene
[ tol-yoo-een ]
/ ˈtɒl yuˌin /
noun Chemistry.
a colorless, water-insoluble, flammable liquid, C7H8, having a benzenelike odor, obtained chiefly from coal tar and petroleum: used as a solvent in the manufacture of benzoic acid, benzaldehyde, TNT, and other organic compounds.
Also called
methylbenzene,
phenylmethane.
Words nearby toluene
toltec,
tolu,
tolu resin,
toluate,
toluca,
toluene,
toluic,
toluic acid,
toluidine,
toluidine blue o,
toluol
Example sentences from the Web for toluene
British Dictionary definitions for toluene
toluene
/ (ˈtɒljʊˌiːn) /
noun
a colourless volatile flammable liquid with an odour resembling that of benzene, obtained from petroleum and coal tar and used as a solvent and in the manufacture of many organic chemicals. Formula: C 6 H 5 CH 3
Word Origin for toluene
C19: from
tolu +
-ene, since it was previously obtained from tolu
Scientific definitions for toluene
toluene
[ tŏl′yōō-ēn′ ]
A clear, toxic, flammable liquid that is used in fuels, explosives, dyes, medicines, and many industrial chemicals. Toluene consists of a methyl group attached to benzene. Also called methylbenzene. Chemical formula: C7H8.