biphenyl

American  

[bahy-fen-l, -feen-l] / baɪˈfɛn l, -ˈfin l /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a water-insoluble, pleasant-smelling, colorless powder or white scales, C 12 H 10 , composed of two phenyl groups, from which benzidine dyes are derived: used chiefly as a heat-transfer agent and in organic synthesis.

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biphenyl British  

/ -ˈfiː-, baɪˈfɛnəl /

noun

1. a white or colourless crystalline solid used as a heat-transfer agent, as a fungicide, as an antifungal food preservative ( E230 ) on the skins of citrus fruit, and in the manufacture of dyes, etc. Formula: C 6 H 5 C 6 H 5

2. any substituted derivative of biphenyl

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Etymology

Origin of biphenyl

First recorded in 1920–25; bi- ¹ + phenyl

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

biphenyl

County, 18 barrels of polychlorinated biphenyl were left out in the desert.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

Mr. Milliken faced a disaster in 1973 when a chemical company accidentally shipped fire retardant containing highly toxic polybrominated biphenyl, or PBB, instead of cattle feed to thousands of farmers.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 19, 2019

Milliken faced a disaster in 1973 when a chemical company accidentally shipped fire retardant containing highly toxic polybrominated biphenyl, or PBB, instead of cattle feed to thousands of farmers.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 18, 2019

Reactions were run on a 100-nmol scale and analysed by UPLC–MS for conversion to products of the form of 10 compared to a biphenyl internal standard.

From Nature ● Apr. 22, 2018

In 2009, the EPA found a host of toxins in fish on the Columbia River, including polychlorinated biphenyl, a potentially carcinogenic synthetic that was banned for production in the U.S. in 1979.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 4, 2014