a colourless insoluble liquid with an aromatic odour that exists in three isomeric forms; methylpropylbenzene: used as solvents and for making synthetic resins. The para- isomer is present in several essential oils. Formula: CH3C6H4CH(CH3)2
Word origin
C19: cym- from Greek kuminoncumin + -ene
cymene in American English
(ˈsaɪˌmin)
noun
a colorless hydrocarbon, CH3C6H4CH(CH3)2, occurring in three isomeric forms (orthocymene, metacymene, and paracymene), derived from toluene: the most common form, paracymene, is found in the oil of certain plants, as cumin and wild thyme, and is used in paints and solvents