ˈzīləˌdēn, ˈzil-, -_d ə n noun
( -s )
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary xyl- + -idine
1. : any of six toxic liquid or low-melting crystalline compounds (CH 3 ) 2 C 6 H 3 NH 2 that are amino derivatives of the xylenes and are made from them by nitration and subsequent reduction and that are used chiefly as intermediates for azo dyes and in organic synthesis: as
a. : the asymmetric meta isomer constituting the major part of mixed xylidines; 2,4-dimethyl-aniline — called also 2,4-xylidine, meta-4-xylidine
b. : the pale yellow crystalline para isomer; 2,5-dimethyl-aniline — called also 2,5-xylidine
c. : the crystalline asymmetric ortho isomer used in synthesizing riboflavin; 3,4-dimethyl-aniline — called also 3,4-xylidine, ortho-4-xylidine
2. : a commercial mixture of xylidines produced from commercial xylene