cymene

[sahy-meen]

noun

a colorless, pleasant-smelling benzene derivative, C10H14, occurring in the volatile oil of the common cumin, Cuminum cyminum, and existing in three forms, the ortho, meta, and para isomers.

Compare para-cymene.

Origin of cymene

1860–65; < Greek kým(īnon) cumin + -ene

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cymene

Historical Examples of cymene

By distillation with zinc chloride, cymene and other products are produced.
Poisons: Their Effects and Detection
Alexander Wynter Blyth
Besides a cymene and a toluene, which have already been shown to exist in rosin spirit, metaxylene was found to be present.
Scientific American Supplement No. 275
Various
Terebenthene belongs to the benzene or aromatic series, which can be shown from its connection with cymene.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 711, August 17, 1889
Various
Cymene is methylpropyl-benzene, and can be made from terpenes by removing two atoms of H.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 711, August 17, 1889
Various

British Dictionary definitions for cymene

cymene

noun

a colourless insoluble liquid with an aromatic odour that exists in three isomeric forms; methylpropylbenzene: used as solvents and for making synthetic resins. The para- isomer is present in several essential oils. Formula: CH 3 C 6 H 4 CH(CH 3) 2

Word Origin for cymene

C19: cym- from Greek kuminon cumin + -ene

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