/tol"yooh een'/ , n. Chem.
a colorless, water-insoluble, flammable liquid, C 7 H 8 , having a benzenelike odor, obtained chiefly from coal tar and petroleum: used as a solvent in the manufacture of benzoic acid, benzaldehyde, TNT, and other organic compounds. Also called methylbenzene, phenylmethane .
[ 1870-75; TOLU + -ENE ]