adamantane

A1D2A1M3A1N1T1A1N1E1
/ˌædəˈmænteɪn/

noun

A polycyclic hydrocarbon, C₁₀H₁₆, having a cagelike structure similar to a portion of the diamond lattice; any of its derivatives

OriginAncient Greek ἀδάμας (adámas) ← Proto-Indo-European *demh₂- ← Proto-Hellenic *ə- →
Scrabble 13
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Meanings

nounadamantane (plural adamantanes)

plural adamantanes

  1. chemistryA polycyclic hydrocarbon, C₁₀H₁₆, having a cagelike structure similar to a portion of the diamond lattice; any of its derivatives

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*né
  2. Proto-Indo-European*n̥-
  3. Proto-Hellenic*ə-
  4. Ancient Greekἀ- (a-)?
  5. Proto-Indo-European*demh₂-
  6. Ancient Greekδαμνάω (damnáō)?
  7. Ancient Greekἀδάμας (adámas)
  8. Englishadamantane

From Ancient Greek ἀδάμας (adámas, “diamond”) + English -ane (suffix indicating an alkane).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish adamantaani
  • adamantaania hydrocarbon
Italian adamantano
  • adamantanoa hydrocarbon
Polish adamantan
  • adamantana hydrocarbon
Portuguese adamantano
  • adamantanoa hydrocarbon
Spanish adamantano
  • adamantanoa hydrocarbon

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

adamantean
Cite this entry
APA

adamantane. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/adamantane

MLA

“adamantane.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/adamantane. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “adamantane,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/adamantane.

Source: adamantane on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.