ˈyu̇rəˌthān, yəˈreˌth- noun
or ure·than -an
( -s )
Etymology: French uréthane, from ur- (I) + éth- eth- + -ane -ane, -an
1.
a. : a crystalline ester-amide NH 2 COOC 2 H 5 made usually by the action of ammonia on ethyl carbonate or ethyl chloroformate or by heating urea nitrate and ethyl alcohol and used chiefly in medicine, for anesthetizing laboratory animals, and as a gelatinizing agent for cellulose acetate or cellulose nitrate — called also ethyl carbamate
b. : an ester of carbamic acid other than the ethyl ester
2.
a. : an ester (as phenylurethane or other ethyl esters) of a substituted carbamic acid — compare phenylurethane
b. : polyurethane
urethane foams