n.
Pronunciation: ' z ī - ˌ l ē n
Function: noun
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary
Date: 1851
: any of three toxic flammable oily isomeric aromatic hydrocarbons C 8 H 10 that are di-methyl homologues of benzene and are usually obtained from petroleum or natural gas distillates also : a mixture of xylenes and ethyl benzene used chiefly as a solvent