Adjacent Words

xylene definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a colorless flammable volatile liquid hydrocarbon used as a solvent [syn: xylene, xylol]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary Date: 1851 any of three toxic flammable oily isomeric aromatic hydrocarbons C₈H₁₀ that are di-methyl homologues of benzene and are usually obtained from petroleum or natural gas distillates; also a mixture of xylenes and ethyl benzene used chiefly as a solvent

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. Chem. one of three isomeric hydrocarbons formed from benzene by the substitution of two methyl groups, obtained from wood etc. Etymology: formed as XYLEM + -ENE

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Xylene Xy"lene, n. [Gr. xy`lon wood.] (Chem.) Any of a group of three metameric hydrocarbons of the aromatic series, found in coal and wood tar, and so named because found in crude wood spirit. They are colorless, oily, inflammable liquids, C6H4.(CH3)2, being dimethyl benzenes, and are called respectively orthoxylene, metaxylene, and paraxylene. Called also xylol. Note: Each of these xylenes is the nucleus and prototype of a distinct series of compounds.