styrene

What it means

1. chemistryAn aromatic hydrocarbon; a colourless, oily liquid, used in the manufacture of polymers such as polystyrene.

   He combined styrene with isobutylene, a volatile liquid, under pressure.

   1996 April 2, Julia Campbell, “Ray McIntire, 77, Dow Engineer And the Inventor Of Styrofoam”, in The New York Times

   Synonyms: monovinylbenzene, styrene oxide, VB, vinylbenzene

In a sentence

He combined styrene with isobutylene, a volatile liquid, under pressure.

1996 April 2, Julia Campbell, “Ray McIntire, 77, Dow Engineer And the Inventor Of Styrofoam”, in The New York Times

Where it comes from

1. Ancient Greekστύραξ (stúrax)
2. Latinstyrax
3. Englishstyrene

From Latin styrax (or storax) + -ene.