methyl

noun

meth·​yl ˈme-thəl 

: an alkyl radical CH₃ derived from methane

methylic

mə-ˈthi-lik 

adjective

Examples of methyl in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In chemical terms, dimethyl sulfide comprises one atom of sulfur bonded to two methyl groups, each of which contains one carbon atom and three hydrogen atoms. —Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 17 Apr. 2025

Those potential signs of life are a group of chemicals called methyl halides, which on Earth are produced by some bacteria and ocean algae. —Paul Sutter, Space.com, 23 Mar. 2025

The team theorizes that shocks initially create these thin filaments in the process, releasing silicon monoxide and organic molecules like methanol, methyl cyanide, and cyanoacetylene into the interstellar medium. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 Mar. 2025

This is basically a mechanism where methyl groups are added to segments of DNA, essentially turning a gene on or off. —New Atlas, 2 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary, back-formation from methylene

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing methyl

• methyl acetate
• methyl alcohol
• methyl bromide
• methyl chloroform
• methyl ethyl ketone
• methyl isocyanate
• methyl methacrylate
• methyl orange
• methyl parathion

Rhymes for methyl

• ethel
• ethyl
• chloroethyl
• chloromethyl
• monomethyl
• diethyl
• dimethyl
• tetraethyl
• trimethyl
• hydroxyethyl

Kids Definition

methyl

noun

meth·​yl ˈmeth-əl 

: a chemical group consisting of carbon and hydrogen

Medical Definition

methyl

noun

meth·​yl

ˈmeth-əl, British also ˈmē-ˌthīl

: an alkyl group CH₃ that is derived from methane by removal of one hydrogen atom

methylic

mə-ˈthil-ik 

adjective