Main Entry:

xy·lene

Pronunciation:

\ˈzī-ˌlēn\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

International Scientific Vocabulary

Date:

1851

: any of three toxic flammable oily isomeric aromatic hydrocarbons C₈H₁₀ that are di-methyl homologues of benzene and are usually obtained from petroleum or natural gas distillates ; also : a mixture of xylenes and ethyl benzene used chiefly as a solvent