a colourless volatile flammable liquid with an odour resembling that of chloroform, used as a solvent and in the manufacture of perfumes and adhesives. Formula: (CH3O)2CH2
Also called: formal
methylal in American English
(ˌmɛθəˈlæl; ˈmɛθəˌlæl)
noun
a colorless, volatile, flammable liquid, CH3OCH2OCH3, that smells like chloroform: it is produced by the incomplete oxidation of methanol and is used as a solvent and in perfumes, organic synthesis, etc.