See Also: methyl(dictionary)
Methyl(medicine)
methyl red(medicine)
methyl green(medicine)
angular methyl(medicine)
methyl nicotinate(medicine)
methyl orange(medicine)
methyl parathion(medicine)
active methyl(medicine)
methyl methanesulfonate(medicine)

methyl (iou)



methyl noun. M19.
[French methyle, German Methyl, back-form. from French methylene, German Methylen METHYLENE.]
Chemistry. The radical CH3 derived from methane, present in methanol, methanoic (formic) acid, etc. Usu. in comb.
Comb.: methyl alcohol = METHANOL; methylbenzene = TOLUENE; methylcellulose any of a range of white, tasteless compounds produced by etherifying cellulose and used as thickening, emulsifying, and stabilizing agents, esp. in foods, laxatives, and adhesives; methyldopa Pharmacology a whitish powder, C10H13NO4, used as a hypotensive agent; methyl ethyl ketone a colourless volatile liquid, CH3COCH2CH3, used as a solvent for organic materials; butanone; methyl green a green dye used in microscopy to stain chromatin; methyl isobutyl ketone a liquid ketone, (CH3)2CHCH2COCH3, used as a solvent; hexone, 4-methylpentan-2-one; methyl isocyanate a toxic gas, CH3NCO, used in making certain pesticides; methyl methacrylate a volatile colourless liquid, CH2C(CH3)COOCH3, that readily polymerizes to form resinous glassy materials such as Perspex and Plexiglas; such a polymeric material; methyl orange an orange crystalline compound which is the sodium salt of a sulphur-containing azo dye, chiefly used in solution as an acid-base indicator, giving a pink colour at pH 3 and yellow at pH 4.4; methylphenidate a sympathomimetic drug used as a CNS stimulant to treat various depressive and lethargic conditions; methyl red a red crystalline acidic azo dye, (CH3)2NC6H4N:NC6H4COOH, used in solution as an acid-base indicator, giving a red colour at pH 4.4 and yellow at pH 6; methyl rubber an early synthetic rubber made by polymerizing dimethylbutadiene; methyl salicylate a colourless or pale yellow liquid, C6H4(OH)COOCH3, the chief constituent of oil of wintergreen and sweet birch oil, which is used as a flavouring, in perfumery, and in analgesic liniments and ointments; methyltestosterone Pharmacology any of the methyl derivatives of testosterone; esp. (more fully 17-methyltestosterone) a synthetic androgen used to treat hormonal imbalances and certain cancers; methylthiouracil a drug which inhibits thyroid activity and is used to control thyrotoxicosis; 6-methyl-2-thiouracil; methyl violet gentian violet.