ˈzīləˌnȯl, -nōl noun
( -s )
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary xylene + -ol
: any of six crystalline isomeric phenols (CH 3 ) 2 C 6 H 3 OH or a mixture of them derived from the xylenes, found in coal tar, and used chiefly as disinfectants and in making phenolic resins; dimethyl-phenol ; especially : the meta or 3,5-isomer constituting the most abundant xylenol in coal tar — compare chloroxylenol