nitrile

American  

[nahy-tril, -treel, -trahyl] / ˈnaɪ trɪl, -tril, -traɪl /

noun

Chemistry.

1. any of a class of organic compounds with the general formula RC≡N.

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nitrile British  

/ ˈnaɪtrɪl, -traɪl /

noun

1. Also called (not in technical usage): cyanide.  any one of a class of organic compounds containing the monovalent group -CN

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nitrile Scientific  

/ nī′trəl /

1. An organic compound, such as acrylonitrile, containing the cyanide group CN. Nitriles are typically colorless solids or liquids and have a distinctive smell.

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Etymology

Origin of nitrile

1840–50; nitr- + -ile, perhaps variant of -yl

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nitrile

According to the agency, in early 2021 he was paid more than $3.18m for an order of nitrile gloves to be sent to US hospitals that were never delivered.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

Higher nitrile butadiene rubber prices following the Middle East conflict have raised input costs, but NBR supply remains stable due to Hartalega’s diversified supplier base, he says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 6, 2026

Costs have been affected "across the board", including the price of condom material nitrile latex and natural rubber.

From Barron's ● Apr. 24, 2026

While preparing the sampling surfaces, Clough followed standard practice and wore nitrile gloves.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 29, 2026

The enzyme maltase decomposes it into glucose and mandelic nitrile glucoside; the latter is broken down by emulsin into glucose, benzaldehyde and prussic acid.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 2 "Gloss" to "Gordon, Charles George" by Various