aryl

adjective

ar·​yl ˈa-rəl How to pronounce aryl (audio)
ˈer-əl
: having or being a monovalent organic radical (such as phenyl) derived from an aromatic hydrocarbon by the removal of one hydrogen atom
often used in combination

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Arryl, from aromatisch aromatic entry 1 + -yl -yl

Note: The term was introduced by the German chemist Daniel Vorländer (1867-1941) in "Alkyl, Alphyl und Arryl," Journal für praktische Chemie, Band 167 (Neue Folge Band 59) (1899), pp. 247-48. The motivation for the doubled -r- is unclear, but in any case one r was soon dropped in both German and English.

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aryl was in 1899

Dictionary Entries Near aryl

Cite this Entry

“Aryl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aryl. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

aryl

noun
ar·​yl ˈar-əl How to pronounce aryl (audio)
: a radical (as phenyl) derived from an aromatic hydrocarbon by the removal of one hydrogen atom
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!