ˈmethəˌnȯl, -nōl noun
( -s )
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary methane + -ol
: a light volatile pungent flammable poisonous liquid alcohol CH 3 OH formed in the destructive distillation of wood but now usually made synthetically (as by catalytic reaction of carbon monoxide and hydrogen under pressure) and used chiefly as a solvent, antifreeze, denaturant for ethyl alcohol, and raw material in the synthesis of formaldehyde and other chemicals — called also methyl alcohol, wood alcohol ; see carbinol , pyroligneous acid