xylene
/ˈzʌɪliːn
/noun [mass noun] Chemistry
A volatile liquid hydrocarbon obtained by distilling wood, coal tar, or petroleum, used in fuels and solvents and in chemical synthesis.
- Alternative name: dimethylbenzene; chemical formula: C6H4(CH3)2; three isomers.
- Fuels such as petroleum are mixtures of various hydrocarbons, and may contain benzene, toluene, xylene, and styrene, and other components.
- If you do insist on using solvents, avoid low-flash point solvents like gasoline, xylene, lacquer thinner, etc. which are dangerously flammable.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from xylo- 'of wood' + -ene.
xylophone from mid 19th century:
This is the only common word formed from Greek xylo- ‘wood’, although it is common enough in science in words such as xylene (mid 19th century) a hydrocarbon made from distilled wood, and archaeologists can describe a single lump of wood as monoxylic (mid 19th century) on the model of monolithic (mid 19th century) for ‘single stone’.