benzene

[ ben-zeen, ben-zeen ]

nounChemistry.
  1. a colorless, volatile, flammable, toxic, slightly water-soluble, liquid, aromatic compound, C6H6, obtained chiefly from coal tar: used in the manufacture of commercial and medicinal chemicals, dyes, and as a solvent for resins, fats, or the like.

Origin of benzene

1
First recorded in 1825–35; benz(oic acid) + -ene

Words Nearby benzene

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How to use benzene in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for benzene

benzene

/ (ˈbɛnziːn, bɛnˈziːn) /


noun
  1. a colourless flammable toxic aromatic liquid used in the manufacture of styrene, phenol, etc, as a solvent for fats, resins, etc, and as an insecticide. Formula: C 6 H 6: See also benzene ring

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for benzene

benzene

[ bĕnzēn′ ]


  1. A colorless flammable liquid derived from petroleum. Benzene is used to make detergents, insecticides, motor fuels, and many other chemical products. Chemical formula: C6H6. See more at benzene ring.

Other words from benzene

  • benzyl adjective

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