Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

tolan

noun
to·​lan | \ ˈtōˌlan\
variants: or less commonly tolane \ -​lān \
plural -s

Definition of tolan

: a white crystalline unsaturated hydrocarbon C6H5C≡CC6H5 obtained synthetically from stilbene : diphenyl-acetylene

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

History and Etymology for tolan

International Scientific Vocabulary tol- + -an or -ane

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about tolan

Dictionary Entries near tolan

Tol'yatti

tola

tolable

tolan

tolar

tolbooth

tolbutamide

Statistics for tolan

Look-up Popularity

Comments on tolan

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

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

farouche

marked by shyness and lack of polish

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Homophone Quiz

  • three-bears-two-of-them-look-like-theyre-whispering-to-a-third-bear-who-looks-chuffed-to-be-the-center-of-attention
  • In order to judge how people felt, the senator's office hired a firm to take a ______.
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

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

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games