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

So, Booth said, the methanol must have come from the cloud that predated the new star and its planets. —Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 13 Nov. 2024

It can also be used to create lower-emission fuels such as methanol to bring down emissions in the transport sector. —Richard Lum, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2024

Green methanol will be the fuel of choice due to its relatively high density and ease of use. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 18 Sep. 2024

During the naming ceremony of the dual-fuel methanol Alexandra Maersk container ship at the U.K.’s Port of Felixstowe, Maersk chief commercial officer Karsten Kildahl said to expect a chaotic return to the Suez in the event the Houthi problem goes away. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

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