amyl

¹ American  

[am-il, ey-mil] / ˈæm ɪl, ˈeɪ mɪl /

adjective

1. containing an amyl group; pentyl.

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noun

1. an amyl group.

amyl- ² American  

1. variant of amylo-, especially before a vowel.

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amyl British  

/ ˈæmɪl /

noun

1. (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

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amyl Scientific  

/ ăm′əl /

1. The radical C ₅ H ₁₁, derived from pentane. Amyl occurs in eight isomeric forms.

2. Also called pentyl

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Etymology

Origin of amyl

1840–50; < Greek ám ( ylon ) starch ( amylo- ) + -yl, with haplology of am ( yl ) -yl

Example Sentences

It’s been identified as potassium amyl xanthate, a pale-yellow powder used in the mining industry.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 25, 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

The action of nitrite of amyl seems to resemble that of cold.

From The Contemporary Review, Volume 36, November 1879 by Various