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amyl

amyl

3 9.9
A part of a molecule made of five carbon atoms and their hydrogen atoms
  • noun
  • /ˈeɪmɪl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : amil
  • Many people are curious about the effects of amyl compounds in the body.
  • amyl nitrate
  • amyl nitrite
  • amyl acetate

Examples

  • The hard drug use measure was based on responses to separate questions addressing the use of sedatives/tranquilizers, stimulants/amphetamines, cocaine, opiates, ecstasy, inhalants, and amyl nitrate/odorizers/rush.

    Academic text (2018)
  • And lubricants and amyl nitrate.

  • What does amyl nitrate do for you?

  • You missed out on amyl nitrate?

  • I ask because amyl nitrate is often made available to heart patients.

  • - Um, there might be some amyl nitrate in the basement.

  • Robert had admitted that, on the way up to visit me, he had had a few beers and had inhaled amyl nitrite.

    Academic text (1994)
  • What about amyl nitrate?

  • The pub smelled of tobacco, marijuana, mescal, amyl nitrate, and beta-carboline.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • We found a significant association between the use of cannabis and other illicit drugs, and LSD, amphetamines, Ecstasy, and amyl/butyl nitrate had each been used by 13-18% of the students, and 34% had tried several drugs.

    Academic text (1999)

Synonyms

isoamyl
vsamyl
  • Specialized
9.9

A five-carbon chemical group with a short branch used in flavors

refers to any five-carbon hydrocarbon radical not only branched forms

Compounds

amyl nitrate
  • Specialized
6.8

A chemical used to widen blood vessels to relieve chest pain

amyl alcohol
  • Specialized
7.4

A colorless liquid used to dissolve things in chemistry labs

Surface Forms

amyl singular
amyls plural

Etymology

Amyl comes from the old Greek word amylon, which means 'starch'. Chemists found related substances in starch and used the name amyl for a small chemical group with five carbon atoms, so today amyl refers to that part of a molecule.