amyl
1 American-
variant of amylo-, especially before a vowel.
noun
-
(modifier, no longer in technical usage) of, consisting of, or containing any of eight isomeric forms of the monovalent group C 5 H 11 - See also pentyl
amyl group or radical
-
The radical C 5 H 11, derived from pentane. Amyl occurs in eight isomeric forms.
-
Also called pentyl
Etymology
Origin of amyl
1840–50; < Greek ám ( ylon ) starch ( amylo- ) + -yl, with haplology of am ( yl ) -yl
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The fire was caused by a combustible chemical powder, potassium amyl xanthate, that’s widely used in the mining industry, officials said.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 24, 2021
The chemical amyl valeranate, some of them noticed, smelled somewhat apple-y.
From New York Times • Nov. 2, 2020
Humans are more sensitive than dogs to amyl acetate, the main odorant in bananas, for instance, presumably because identifying ripe fruit was more important to our own ancestors and irrelevant to those of dogs.
From The Guardian • May 11, 2017
Snyder didn’t send him to the hospital but instead treated him with amyl nitrate for angina; heparin, a blood thinner; and morphine for the pain.
From Slate • Jan. 19, 2017
With the nitrite of amyl, Dr. Richardson has suspended the life of a frog for nine days, yet the creature was then restored to full and vigorous life.
From The Contemporary Review, Volume 36, November 1879 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.