Xylene
/ˈzaɪliːn/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any of a group of three isomeric aromatic hydrocarbons, found in coal and wood tar. countable, uncountable
"[…] proceeding, desperately, from such opiated catarrh preparations as Collis Brown's Mixture on to cocainized brain tonics, cigarettes soaked in absinthe, xylene in unventilated rooms, and so on […]"
- 2 a colorless flammable volatile liquid hydrocarbon used as a solvent wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
More examples"[…] proceeding, desperately, from such opiated catarrh preparations as Collis Brown's Mixture on to cocainized brain tonics, cigarettes soaked in absinthe, xylene in unventilated rooms, and so on […]"
Etymology
From xyl- + -ene.