methyl
adjective
containing the methyl group. Me
methyl
1 American
[meth-uhl]
/ ˈmɛθ əl /
adjective
Chemistry.
methyl-
2
American
methyl
British
/ ˈmiːθaɪl, ˈmɛθɪl, məˈθɪlɪk /
noun
-
(modifier) of, consisting of, or containing the monovalent group of atoms CH 3
-
an organometallic compound in which methyl groups are bound directly to a metal atom
methyl
Scientific
/ mĕth′əl /
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of methyl
First recorded in 1835–45; by back formation from methylene
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The bees received pollen, water, and food contaminated with the pesticide methyl parathion.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 22, 2026
The compromised tank threatened to blow up, affecting adjacent tanks also containing the toxic chemical methyl methacrylate which could have caused a large-scale public safety emergency.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2026
The EPA says methyl methacrylate is irritating to the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes in humans.
From Barron's ● May 24, 2026
The tank contains a toxic chemical known as methyl methacrylate, or MMA, which makes acrylic plastics and can cause eye, skin and breathing issues, according to the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 24, 2026
Many essential oils are now manufactured synthetically, e.g. oil of wintergreen owes its fragrance to methyl salicylate, pineapple oil to ethylbutyrate, pear oil to amylacetate.
From The New Gresham Encyclopedia Volume 4, Part 2: Ebert to Estremadura by Various
Crude wood spirit, which has been freed from acetic acid, consists in the main of a mixture of acetone and methyl- alcohol.
From Nitro-Explosives: A Practical Treatise by P. Gerald (Percy Gerald) Sanford
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
