methyl

¹

[ meth-uhl ]

adjective

, Chemistry.

1. containing the methyl group. : Me

methyl-

²

1. a combining form occurring in the names of chemical compounds in which the methyl group is present:

   methylamine.

methyl

/ ˈmiːθaɪl; ˈmɛθɪl; məˈθɪlɪk /

noun

1. modifier of, consisting of, or containing the monovalent group of atoms CH 3
2. an organometallic compound in which methyl groups are bound directly to a metal atom

methyl

/ mĕth′əl /

1. The radical CH 3 , derived from methane.

Derived Forms

• methylic, adjective

Other Words From

• me·thyl·ic [me-, thil, -ik, m, uh, -], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of methyl¹

First recorded in 1835–45; by back formation from methylene

Word History and Origins

Origin of methyl¹

C19: from French méthyle, back formation from methylene

Example Sentences

DNA m is a natural process where small chemical groups, called methyl groups, are added to certain parts of our DNA.

From Science Daily

This is why RNA-methylation needs to be tightly controlled, taken care of by a set of proteins: "writers" deposit, "readers" recognize and "erasers" remove the methyl group.

From Science Daily

Use of the gas surged after sales of another fumigant called methyl bromide were sharply curtailed because of the harm it caused to the ozone layer.

From Los Angeles Times

This modification is enabled by the transfer of methyl groups to nucleobases at certain positions in the DNA.

From Science Daily

In particular, they focused on a process known as DNA methylation, in which molecules called methyl groups are added to different genes, often changing the way they are expressed.

From Science Magazine