any of three oily, colorless, water-insoluble, flammable, toxic, isomeric liquids, C8H10, of the benzene series, obtained mostly from coal tar: used chiefly in the manufacture of dyes.
Main Entry: xy·lene Pronunciation: 'zI-"lEn Function: noun : any of three toxic flammable oily isomeric aromatic hydrocarbonsC8H10 that are dimethyl homologues of benzene and are usually obtained from petroleum or natural gas distillates; also: a commercial mixture of xylenes usedchiefly as a solvent
Main Entry: xy·lol Pronunciation: 'zI-"lol, -"lOl Function: noun :XYLENE