a colourless volatile flammable liquid with an odour resembling that of benzene, obtained from petroleum and coal tar and used as a solvent and in the manufacture of many organic chemicals. Formula: C6H5CH3
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
tol•u•ene
(tol′yo̅o̅ ēn′),USA pronunciation n. [Chem.]
- a colorless, water-insoluble, flammable liquid, C7H8, having a benzenelike odor, obtained chiefly from coal tar and petroleum: used as a solvent in the manufacture of benzoic acid, benzaldehyde, TNT, and other organic compounds. Also called methylbenzene, phenylmethane.
- tolu + -ene 1870–75
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'toluene' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
TNT
- benzene series
- benzoic acid
- benzol
- benzotrichloride
- benzotrifluoride
- benzyl group
- butylated hydroxytoluene
- coal tar
- inhalant
- methylbenzene
- phenylmethane
- solvent abuse
- tolan
- toluene trichloride
- toluene trifluoride
- toluic acid
- toluidine
- toluol
- tolyl group
- trinitrotoluene