an oily colourless liquid obtained from methane and used as a solvent and rocket fuel and in the manufacture of synthetic resins. Formula: CH3NO2
nitromethane in American English
(ˌnaitrəˈmeθein)
noun
Chemistry
a colorless, oily, slightly water-soluble, poisonous liquid, CH3NO2, used chiefly as a solvent, rocket fuel, and gasoline additive and in organic synthesis
Word origin
[1870–75; nitro- + methane]This word is first recorded in the period 1870–75. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Mafia, Victorian, asymmetric, giveaway, linkagenitro- is a combining form used in the names of chemical compounds in which the nitro groupis present. Other words that use the affix nitro- include: nitrobenzene, nitroglycerin, nitromersol, nitroparaffin, nitrophenol
Examples of 'nitromethane' in a sentence
nitromethane
Nitromethane ('nitro') is a fuel made specifically for which sport?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
We were using nitromethane, which was virtually an explosive.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He now drives a 6500bhp nitromethane-fuelled dragster, which can hit 310mph in a quarter of a mile.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The bike will run on an explosive mix of around 20% nitromethane and 80% methanol.