methanol

noun

meth·​a·​nol ˈme-thə-ˌnȯl 

-ˌnōl

: a light volatile flammable poisonous liquid alcohol CH₃OH used especially as a solvent, antifreeze, or denaturant for ethanol and in the synthesis of other chemicals

Examples of methanol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

News outlets had reported the cause of the foreigners’ illness was suspected alcohol poisoning, similar to a case in Laos last month in which six tourists — including two Australian teenagers — died after consuming drinks tainted with methanol. —Rod McGuirk, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024

The production of methanol increased when exposed to visible light and higher temperatures, conditions that would have been present in early Earth's hot springs. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2024

According to Blicher, about 170 dual-fuel methanol vessels are on order from the entire industry, which is helping to build scale. —Dylan Butts, CNBC, 28 Nov. 2024

But methanol poisoning is has not yet been confirmed. —Katherine Hignett, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for methanol

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• catarrhal
• cortisol
• ethanol
• fireball
• gasohol

Kids Definition

methanol

noun

meth·​a·​nol ˈmeth-ə-ˌnȯl 

-ˌnōl

: a light flammable poisonous liquid alcohol that consists of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen and is used especially as antifreeze and to dissolve things

Medical Definition

methanol

noun

meth·​a·​nol ˈmeth-ə-ˌnȯl  -ˌnōl 

: a light volatile pungent flammable poisonous liquid alcohol CH₃OH formed in the destructive distillation of wood or made synthetically and used especially as a solvent, antifreeze, or denaturant for ethanol and in the synthesis of other chemicals

called also carbinol, methyl alcohol, wood alcohol