amyl nitrite

noun

Definition of amyl nitrite

: a pale yellow pungent flammable liquid ester C₅H₁₁NO₂ of commercial amyl alcohol and nitrous acid that is used in medicine as a vasodilator and inhaled illicitly especially as an aphrodisiac — compare popper 2

First Known Use of amyl nitrite

1867

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Medical Dictionary

amyl nitrite

noun

medical Definition of amyl nitrite

: a pale yellow pungent flammable liquid ester C₅H₁₁NO₂ of commercial amyl alcohol and nitrous acid that is used chiefly in medicine as a vasodilator especially in treating angina pectoris and illicitly as an aphrodisiac — called also isoamyl nitrite; compare popper

Learn More about amyl nitrite

See words that rhyme with amyl nitrite Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about amyl nitrite

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up amyl nitrite? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

WORD OF THE DAY

effigy

play

a figure representing a hated person

BROWSE DICTIONARY

amyliferous

amyl nitrate

amyl nitrite

amylogram

amylograph

Test Your Vocabulary

Words for Summer: A Quiz

Which of the following words means “of or relating to summer”?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ

Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games