toluene
noun
tol·u·ene
ˈtäl-yə-ˌwēn 
: a liquid aromatic hydrocarbon C7H8 that resembles benzene but is less volatile, flammable, and toxic and is used especially as a solvent, in organic synthesis, and as an antiknock agent for gasoline
Examples of toluene in a Sentence
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Combustion from natural gas turbines releases a complex mixture of pollutants, including fine and coarse particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and hazardous chemicals such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes.
—
Namuun Batbaatar, The Conversation, 23 Sep. 2025
In the Pacific Palisades home, the navy and gray throw pillows Zhu sampled had particularly high levels of toluene, which can be produced during combustion.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 11 Sep. 2025
Misdemeanor disorderly conduct: under influence of toluene, 700 block Grand Ave., 12:27 a.m.
• Misdemeanor disorderly conduct: alcohol, 800 block Garnet Ave., 1:12 a.m.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
Given two days, this single strain could remove about a quarter of the phenol, a third of the biphenyl, 30 percent of the DBF, all of the naphthalene, and nearly all of the toluene.
—ArsTechnica, 7 May 2025
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Namuun Batbaatar, The Conversation, 23 Sep. 2025
In the Pacific Palisades home, the navy and gray throw pillows Zhu sampled had particularly high levels of toluene, which can be produced during combustion.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 11 Sep. 2025
Misdemeanor disorderly conduct: under influence of toluene, 700 block Grand Ave., 12:27 a.m.
• Misdemeanor disorderly conduct: alcohol, 800 block Garnet Ave., 1:12 a.m.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
Given two days, this single strain could remove about a quarter of the phenol, a third of the biphenyl, 30 percent of the DBF, all of the naphthalene, and nearly all of the toluene.
—ArsTechnica, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for toluene
Cite this Entry
“Toluene.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toluene. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
toluene
noun
tol·u·ene
ˈtäl-yə-ˌwēn
: a liquid aromatic hydrocarbon C7H8 that resembles benzene but is less volatile, flammable, and toxic and is used as a solvent, in organic synthesis, and as an antiknock agent for gasoline
called also methylbenzene
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