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methylate

American  
[meth-uh-layt] / ˈmɛθ əˌleɪt /

noun

  1. Also called methoxide. any derivative of methyl alcohol, as sodium methylate, CH 3 ONa.

  2. any compound containing the methyl group.


verb (used with object)

methylated, methylating
  1. (in a compound) to replace (one or more hydrogen atoms) with the methyl group.

  2. to mix with methyl alcohol, as in the denaturation of ethyl alcohol.

methylate British  
/ ˈmɛθɪˌleɪt /

verb

  1. (tr) to mix with methanol

  2. to undergo or cause to undergo a chemical reaction in which a methyl group is introduced into a molecule

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. another name for methoxide

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
methylate Scientific  
/ mĕth′ə-lāt′ /
  1. An organic compound having the general formula CH 3 OR, in which R is a metal. Methylates are formed by replacing the hydrogen of the hydroxyl group (OH) of methyl alcohol with a metal.


  1. To combine with the methyl radical.

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of methylate

First recorded in 1825–35; methyl- + -ate 1


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:

RBPs methylate miRNA to inhibit its function and thus stop mRNA degradation.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

Well-dried hydroxylamine hydrochloride is dissolved in methyl alcohol and mixed with sodium methylate; a solution of methyldichloramine in absolute ether is then added and an ethereal solution of diazomethane distils over.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 4 "Diameter" to "Dinarchus" by Various

Last night, however, I managed to secure and methylate a good-sized scorpion.

From Australia Twice Traversed, Illustrated, by Ernest Giles

The preliminary experiments showed that condensation with sodium methylate takes a long time and gives a product which it is difficult to handle in large quantities.

From Organic Syntheses by James Bryant Conant

They form unstable addition products with sodium ethylate or methylate.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 7 "Equation" to "Ethics" by Various

Tumor cells, whose DNA was less methylated, responded sensitively to the Wnt factors, which resulted in extravasation from the blood vessel and subsequent latency.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 2, 2024

In cancer cells, the DNA in the promoter region of silenced genes is methylated on cytosine DNA residues in CpG islands.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

The genes switched on or off by the methylated bases near them may help control that trait—for example, the life span methylation cluster may govern stem cell genes important early in development, the team proposes.

From Science Magazine ● Oct. 18, 2021

In addition to prescription medications, she used methylated spirits, tea tree oil, and even put toothpaste on the spots.

From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2020

The spray was a 25 per cent DDT concentrate suspended in a solvent containing methylated naphthalenes.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

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