adamantane

noun

ad·​a·​man·​tane

ˌa-də-ˈman-ˌtān

plural -s

: a crystalline high-melting hydrocarbon C₁₀H₁₆ having the carbon atoms of its skeleton in the same tricyclic pattern found in the space lattice of the diamond; symmetrical tricyclo-decane

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary adamant entry 2 + -ane; probably originally formed as German adamantan

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined above

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