An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
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A colorless, flammable liquid, insoluble in water and soluble in alcohol and ether, used as a solvent and in the manufacture of other organic chemicals and explosives. Chemical formula C₆H₅CH₃. Same as methylbenzene and phenylmethane. See also → trinitrotoluene.

From tolu, from the older name toluol, which refers to tolu balsam, an aromatic extract from the tropical Colombian tree Myroxylon balsamum, from which it was first isolated, + -ene suffix used to form names of unsaturated hydrocarbons, from Gk. -ene denoting origin or source.

A yellow, solid chemical compound, that does not occur naturally in the environment. More specifically, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (C₆H₂(NO₂)₃CH₃), is commonly known as TNT. It is an explosive extensively used in munitions and for demolitions.

→ trinitro- + → toluene.