Methylene

Origin

French méthylène, from Ancient Greek μέθυ (methy, "wine") + ὕλη (hylē, "wood").

Full definition of methylene

Noun

1. (organic chemistry) The divalent radical CH₂< in which the free valencies are part of single bonds.
2. (organic chemistry) The same group, present as a repeating unit, in aliphatic compounds with names such as hexamethylenediamine.
3. (organic chemistry) The unstable carbene CH₂

Related terms

• methylidene