pentaerythritol tetranitrate

noun

, Chemistry, Pharmacology.

1. a white, crystalline, water-insoluble, explosive solid, C 5 H 8 N 4 O 1 2 , used chiefly as a high explosive and as a vasodilator in treating angina pectoris.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pentaerythritol tetranitrate¹

First recorded in 1920–25