methyl alcohol

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless, volatile, water-soluble, poisonous liquid, CH 4 O, obtained by the destructive distillation of wood or the incomplete oxidation of natural gas, or produced synthetically from carbon monoxide and hydrogen, used chiefly as a solvent, a fuel, and an automobile antifreeze and in the synthesis of formaldehyde.

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methyl alcohol British  

noun

1. another name for methanol

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methyl alcohol Scientific  

1. See methanol

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Etymology

Origin of methyl alcohol

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

Fortunately, molecules of water and methyl alcohol just outside the regions ionized by these hot stars can be very bright radio sources because they emit natural “maser” emission that is barely attenuated by galactic dust.

From Scientific American

In February, 150 people, mostly tea plantation workers, died and about 200 were hospitalized after drinking tainted liquor laced with methyl alcohol in two separate incidents in Assam state in India’s remote northeast.

From Seattle Times

The workers consumed the tainted liquor laced with methyl alcohol, a chemical that attacks the central nervous system, on Thursday and started falling unconscious.

From Washington Times

The liquor may have been contaminated with toxic methyl alcohol, according to local news reports.

From New York Times

The recent deaths in Assam have reportedly been traced to a specific batch which contained methyl alcohol, which is a fuel or industrial solvent commonly used in factories.

From Fox News