Main Entry:

sty·rene

Pronunciation:

\ˈstī-ˌrēn\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

International Scientific Vocabulary, from Latin styrax

Date:

1885

: a fragrant liquid unsaturated hydrocarbon C₈H₈ used chiefly in making synthetic rubber, resins, and plastics and in improving drying oils ; also : any of various synthetic plastics made from styrene by polymerization or copolymerization