Main Entry: tol·u·ene

Pronunciation: \ˈtäl-yə-ˌwēn\

Function: noun

Etymology: French toluène, from tolu balsam from the tropical American tree Myroxylon balsamum, from Spanish tolú, from Santiago de Tolú, Colombia

Date: 1855

: a liquid aromatic hydrocarbon C₇H₈ that resembles benzene but is less volatile, flammable, and toxic and is used especially as a solvent, in organic synthesis, and as an antiknock agent for gasoline