methyl bromide

noun

: a poisonous gaseous compound CH3Br used chiefly as a fumigant against rodents, worms, and insects

Examples of methyl bromide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Incredibly brilliant planetary scientists and astrobiologists at the University of California, Riverside, have discovered that the methyl bromide gases emitted by broccoli—one of the most repellent foods known to mankind—could be pivotal in discovering whether life exists on other planets. Joe Queenan, WSJ, 10 Nov. 2022 Seven years ago, another round of American tourists fell ill at a resort in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where authorities discovered was caused by indoor use of the pesticide methyl bromide, which had been banned in 1984 but was still used at the resort. Zoe Christen Jones, CBS News, 27 May 2022 Acute doses of methyl bromide can be fatal; chronic and acute exposure increases the risk of prostate cancer. Chris Baraniuk, Wired, 16 July 2022 The toxic gas that had assailed them was the odorless and colorless methyl bromide. Chris Baraniuk, Wired, 16 July 2022 These include chlorofluorocarbons, which are found in air conditioners, refrigerators, and spray cans, halons, which are found in fire extinguishers, and methyl bromide, which is used to kill weeds, insects, and other pests. Popular Science, 18 May 2020 But the province’s chemical science laboratory and officials of Karachi Port Trust have blamed the illnesses and fatalities on the release of methyl bromide, which is used in the fumigation of large vessels at the port. Salman Masood, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Feb. 2020 The indictment says Rivera used fumigants containing methyl bromide in multiple locations in the Virgin Islands, including the St. John resort where the family that became ill was staying in March 2015. Kelly McCleary, CNN, 14 Apr. 2018 According to Judith Enck, an administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency, the day the family arrived at their second floor condo, the unit below them was sprayed with methyl bromide. Samantha Toscano, Good Housekeeping, 6 Apr. 2015

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'methyl bromide.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of methyl bromide was in 1871

Dictionary Entries Near methyl bromide

Cite this Entry

“Methyl bromide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/methyl%20bromide. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.

Medical Definition

methyl bromide

noun
: a poisonous gaseous compound CH3Br used chiefly as a fumigant against rodents, worms, and insects

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