styrene

[ stahy-reen, steer-een ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a colorless, water-insoluble liquid, C 8 H 8 , having a penetrating aromatic odor, usually prepared from ethylene and benzene or ethylbenzene, that polymerizes to a clear transparent material and copolymerizes with other materials to form synthetic rubbers.

styrene

/ ˈstaɪriːn /

noun

1. a colourless oily volatile flammable water-insoluble liquid made from ethylene and benzene. It is an unsaturated compound and readily polymerizes: used in making synthetic plastics and rubbers. Formula: C 6 H 5 CH:CH 2 See also polystyrene

styrene

/ stī′rēn′ /

1. A colorless, oily aromatic hydrocarbon that readily undergoes polymerization. It is used in making polystyrene, polyesters, synthetic rubber, and other products. Chemical formula: C 8 H 8 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of styrene¹

First recorded in 1880–85; from Latin styr- stem of styrax ( storax ( def ) ) + -ene

Word History and Origins

Origin of styrene¹

C20: from styr ( ax ) + -ene

Example Sentences

With a small styrene ball stuck to them, they move faster, the researchers report in a study to appear in Physical Review Applied.

From Science News