Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
nitromethane

nitromethane

1 8.8
A clear oily liquid that burns easily and is used as a strong fuel in racing and to make explosives
  • noun
  • /ˌnaɪtroʊˈmɛθeɪn/
  • Specialized
: nitrometano
  • Nitromethane tank.
  • nitromethane fuel

Examples

  • In professional racing, teams often use nitromethane as a high-performance fuel to enhance their vehicles' speed.

  • During the race, the intoxicating smell of nitromethane filled the air, signaling powerful engines at work.

  • Many enthusiasts experiment with nitromethane in their hobbyist remote-controlled cars for increased acceleration.

Surface Forms

nitromethane singular
nitromethanes plural

Morphology

nitromethane = methane (semi-transparent) = nitro + methane

Formed from the combining form 'nitro-' + 'methane'; the elements signal a chemical compound but this is specialised terminology not easily decoded by an average B1 learner.

Etymology

The word nitromethane comes from two parts: nitro, which shows it has 'nitrogen', and methane, a simple fuel gas. That's why nitromethane is a fuel-like liquid that helps engines burn hotter and is also used in explosives and propellants.