nitromethane

American  

[nahy-truh-meth-eyn] / ˌnaɪ trəˈmɛθ eɪn /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless, oily, slightly water-soluble, poisonous liquid, CH 3 NO 2 , used chiefly as a solvent, rocket fuel, and gasoline additive and in organic synthesis.

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nitromethane British  

/ ˌnaɪtrəʊˈmiːθeɪn /

noun

1. an oily colourless liquid obtained from methane and used as a solvent and rocket fuel and in the manufacture of synthetic resins. Formula: CH 3 NO 2

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Etymology

Origin of nitromethane

First recorded in 1870–75; nitro- + methane

Example Sentences

In the early years of drag racing, competitors were happy with a modest 1,000 horsepower or so and were loath to destroy their equipment with huge loads of nitromethane and ungodly cylinder pressure.

From New York Times • May 17, 2020

A commercial solvent used to clean the plates of printing presses, nitromethane contains oxygen, so it can burn with less atmospheric oxygen than gasoline.

From New York Times • May 17, 2020

But he can also be as combustible and unpredictable as the nitromethane that fuels his race car.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2018

They range from common household compounds like hydrogen peroxide, used as a hair bleach and antiseptic, to industrial solvents like nitromethane, which is used in dry-cleaning.

From Reuters • Jul. 12, 2012

The fourth nitromethane was obtained from the nitromalonic acid previously mentioned by a repetition of the method by which the third was prepared; this was identical with the other three.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 "Châtelet" to "Chicago" by Various