▸noun[mass noun]Chemistrya 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.
– ORIGIN mid 19th century: from xylo-‘of wood’ + -ene.
EnglishOxford Dictionary of English
