pentaerythritol

American

[pen-tuh-i-rith-ri-tawl, -tol] / ˌpɛn tə ɪˈrɪθ rɪˌtɔl, -ˌtɒl /

noun

Chemistry.

a white, crystalline, water-soluble powder, C 5 H 1 2 O 4 , used chiefly in the manufacture of alkyd resins, varnishes, plasticizers, and explosives.

Etymology

Origin of pentaerythritol

First recorded in 1890–95; penta- + erythritol

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.

PETN, or pentaerythritol tetranitrate, is hard to detect.

From Washington Post • Dec. 26, 2010

By early evening, emergency officials had contained the spill of PETN, or the powerful explosive pentaerythritol tetranitrate, according to Karen Fox, a spokeswoman for the North Carolina State Ports Authority.

From New York Times • Jan. 13, 2010

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023