noun
methanol
MEH-thuh-nol
Methanol (noun) means a simple, toxic alcohol (CH3OH) used as a solvent, fuel, and antifreeze. Example: “Methanol poisoning can cause blindness if untreated.”
noun
1
A simple, toxic alcohol (CH3OH) used as a solvent, fuel, and antifreeze.
"Methanol poisoning can cause blindness if untreated."
"Some race cars run on methanol instead of petrol."
How to use methanol
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA toxic alcohol used in industry, not for drinking.
Common mistake
Methanol is poisonous and must never be confused with ethanol, the alcohol in drinks — swapping them has caused fatal poisonings.
Easily confused with
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like methanol.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- methanols
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ poisoning can cause blindness if untreated.
Etymology
From methane + -ol (the suffix used for alcohols). The name traces back to French chemists in the 1800s who described it as "wood alcohol" using Greek roots for "wine" and "wood".
Class of 1800
methanol joined the language around 1800.
See the full Class of 1800 →
Synonyms
View more →
wood spirit
wood alcohol
methyl alcohol
Rhymes for methanol
See all rhymes for methanol →Frequently asked questions
What does “methanol” mean?
The word “methanol” means a simple, toxic alcohol (CH3OH) used as a solvent, fuel, and antifreeze. In plain terms, a toxic alcohol used in industry, not for drinking.
How do you pronounce “methanol”?
“Methanol” is pronounced MEH-thuh-nol (/ˈmɛθənɒl/ in IPA).
How do you use “methanol” in a sentence?
Here is “methanol” used in a sentence: “Methanol poisoning can cause blindness if untreated.”
What part of speech is “methanol”?
“Methanol” is a noun.
Where does the word “methanol” come from?
The word “methanol” dates back to around 1800 and comes from French. From methane + -ol (the suffix used for alcohols). The name traces back to French chemists in the 1800s who described it as "wood alcohol" using Greek roots for "wine" and "wood".
