XYLENE
xylene, xylol
(noun) a colorless flammable volatile liquid hydrocarbon used as a solvent
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
xylene (plural xylenes)
(chemistry) Any of a group of three isomeric aromatic hydrocarbons, found in coal and wood tar.
Synonym: dimethylbenzene
Source: Wiktionary
Xy"lene, n. Etym: [Gr. xy`lon wood.] (Chem.)
Definition: Any of a group of three metameric hydrocarbons of the aromatic
series, found in coal and wood tar, and so named because found in
crude wood spirit. They are colorless, oily, inflammable liquids,
C6H4.(CH3)2, being dimethyl benzenes, and are called respectively
orthoxylene, metaxylene, and paraxylene. Called also xylol.
Note: Each of these xylenes is the nucleus and prototype of a
distinct series of compounds.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition