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

Four people have died — including a teenager — after drinking alcohol that authorities say was tainted with methanol. —Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 21 Nov. 2024

Advertisement The suspicion of methanol poisoning was a blow to Fiji’s tourism industry, which has a reputation for providing safe food and drinks. —Rod McGuirk, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024

It’s generally considered a safe place to travel, though after the incident Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs updated its advice to warn visitors to the island about the danger of drink spiking and methanol poisoning. —Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 18 Dec. 2024

The incident comes a month after six tourists died from methanol poisoning after drinking at a bar in Laos. —Max Hauptman, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024

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