English Explanatory Dictionary

methanol

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The simplest aliphatic alcohol, CH₃OH; a colourless, toxic, inflammable liquid, used as a solvent, antifreeze, in the chemical industry, and in the preparation of methylated spirit.

Pronunciation

/ˈmɛθənɒl/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-methanol.wav

Word forms

methanol methanols

Etymology

From methane + -ol. French chemists Jean-Baptiste Dumas and Eugene Peligot, after determining methanol's chemical structure, introduced "methylene" from the Ancient Greek μέθυ (méthu, “wine”) + ὕλη (húlē, “wood, material”) with the intention of highlighting its origins, "alcohol made from wood (substance)".

Synonyms

methyl alcohol methyl hydrate methyl hydroxide methylol monohydroxymethane wood alcohol wood naphtha wood spirits

Derived words

diphenylmethanol methanolic methanolized phenanthrenemethanol quinolinemethanol triphenylmethanol
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