urethane

[ yoor-uh-theyn ]

nounChemistry.
  1. any derivative of carbamic acid having the formula CH2NO2R.

  2. Also called ethyl carbamate, ethyl urethane. a white, crystalline, water-soluble powder, C3H7NO2: used chiefly as a solvent, in organic synthesis, as a fungicide and pesticide, and formerly in cancer treatment.

Origin of urethane

1
<French uréthane (1833); see urea, ethane
  • Also u·re·than [yoor-uh-than]. /ˈyʊər əˌθæn/.

Words Nearby urethane

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How to use urethane in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for urethane

urethane

urethan (ˈjʊərɪˌθæn)

/ (ˈjʊərɪˌθeɪn) /


noun
  1. short for polyurethane

  2. another name for ethyl carbamate

Origin of urethane

1
C19: from uro- 1 + ethyl + -ane

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 urethane

urethane

[ yurĭ-thān′ ]


  1. A colorless or white crystalline compound used in organic synthesis. Formerly it was also used to relieve symptoms associated with leukemia. Also called ethyl carbamate. Chemical formula: C3H7NO2.

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