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• methyl
  methyl

  adjective

  containing the methyl group. Me
• methyl-
  methyl-

  a combining form occurring in the names of chemical compounds in which the methyl group is present.

methyl

¹ American  

[meth-uhl] / ˈmɛθ əl /

adjective

Chemistry.

1. containing the methyl group. Me

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methyl- ² American  

1. a combining form occurring in the names of chemical compounds in which the methyl group is present.

   methylamine.

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methyl British  

/ ˈmiːθaɪl, ˈmɛθɪl, məˈθɪlɪk /

noun

1. (modifier) of, consisting of, or containing the monovalent group of atoms CH 3

2. an organometallic compound in which methyl groups are bound directly to a metal atom

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methyl Scientific  

/ mĕth′əl /

1. The radical CH ₃, derived from methane.

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Other Word Forms

• methylic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of methyl

First recorded in 1835–45; by back formation from methylene

Compare meaning

How does methyl compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• methyl vs. ethyl

Example Sentences

It combined the retinoic acid structure with a methyl ester side chain and showed threefold higher neuronal differentiation activity than the control, along with significantly stronger activity than natural vitamin K compounds.

From Science Daily • May 27, 2026

Many of those operations used petrochemical products and solvents such as resins, adhesives and acrylic compounds like methyl methacrylate, the chemical at the center of the Orange County crisis.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

The EPA says methyl methacrylate is irritating to the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes in humans.

From Barron's • May 24, 2026

Tens of thousands told to evacuate as a tank of methyl methacrylate at an aerospace plastics facility poses a risk of leaking potentially toxic vapors in the air.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026

If borax is present the carbon dioxide is boiled off after neutralizing exactly to methyl orange; cool, add mannite and phenolphthalein and titrate the boric acid with standard alkali.

From Soap-Making Manual A Practical Handbook on the Raw Materials, Their Manipulation, Analysis and Control in the Modern Soap Plant. by Thomssen, E. G.