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tetrahydrofuran

American  
[te-truh-hahy-druh-fyoor-an] / ˌtɛ trəˌhaɪ drəˈfyʊər æn /

noun

Chemistry.

  1. a clear liquid, C 4 H 8 O, soluble in water and organic solvents, used as a solvent for resins, in polymerizations and as a chemical intermediate.

tetrahydrofuran Scientific  
/ tĕt′rə-hī′drə-fyr′ăn′ /

  1. A clear, highly flammable liquid used as a solvent for natural and synthetic resins and in the production of nylon. Tetrahydrofuran is a furan ring without double bonds between any of the carbon atoms. It is the building block of the sugars ribose, deoxyribose, and fructose. Chemical formula: C 4 H 8 O.

Etymology

Origin of tetrahydrofuran

First recorded in 1940–45; tetra- + hydro- 2 + furan

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.

"CELF uses tetrahydrofuran or THF to supplement water and dilute acid during biomass pretreatment. It improves overall efficiency and adds lignin extraction capabilities," Cai said.

From Science Daily • Feb. 7, 2024

THF, tetrahydrofuran; aq., aqueous conditions, tBuOK, potassium tertiary-butoxide.

From Nature • Mar. 28, 2017

THF, tetrahydrofuran; aq., aqueous conditions, tBuOK, potassium tertiary-butoxide.

From Nature • Mar. 28, 2017

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.