acenaphthene

noun

ace·​naph·​thene

ˌasəˈnapˌthēn,

-afˌth-

plural -s

: a crystalline tricyclic hydrocarbon C₁₂H₁₀ obtained especially from coal tar and used chiefly as a dye intermediate and in biology for inducing polyploidy

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary ace- + naphthene

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

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