styrene

[ stahy-reen, steer-een ]

/ ˈstaɪ rin, ˈstɪər in /

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noun Chemistry.

a colorless, water-insoluble liquid, C8H8, having a penetrating aromatic odor, usually prepared from ethylene and benzene or ethylbenzene, that polymerizes to a clear transparent material and copolymerizes with other materials to form synthetic rubbers.

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Also called cinnamene, phenylethylene, vinylbenzene.

Compare polystyrene.

Origin of styrene

First recorded in 1880–85; from Latin styr- stem of styrax (see storax) + -ene

Words nearby styrene

styptic pencil, Styr, styracaceous, styralyl acetate, styrax, styrene, styrene resin, Styria, Styrofoam, Styron, stythe

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use styrene in a sentence

With a small styrene ball stuck to them, they move faster, the researchers report in a study to appear in Physical Review Applied.
Tiny amoebas move faster when carrying cargo than without|James R. Riordon|August 1, 2022|Science News

British Dictionary definitions for styrene

styrene

/ (ˈstaɪriːn) /

noun

a colourless oily volatile flammable water-insoluble liquid made from ethylene and benzene. It is an unsaturated compound and readily polymerizes: used in making synthetic plastics and rubbers. Formula: C 6 H 5 CH:CH 2See also polystyrene

Word Origin for styrene

C20: from styr (ax) + -ene

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

Scientific definitions for styrene

styrene

[ stī′rēn′ ]

A colorless, oily aromatic hydrocarbon that readily undergoes polymerization. It is used in making polystyrene, polyesters, synthetic rubber, and other products. Chemical formula: C8H8.