dichloromethane

D2I1C3H4L1O1R1O1M3E1T1H4A1N1E1

noun

The partially halogenated hydrocarbon CH₂Cl₂ widely used as a solvent

Similar
DCMmethylene chloridemethylene dichlorideR-30
OriginEnglish methane ← German Methy ← Ancient Greek ῡ̔́λη (hū́lē) →
UncommonScrabble 26
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Meanings

noundichloromethane (countable and uncountable, plural dichloromethanes)

plural dichloromethanes

  1. countableuncountablechemistryThe partially halogenated hydrocarbon CH₂Cl₂ widely used as a solvent

    Synonyms: DCM, methylene chloride, methylene dichloride, R-30

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe partially halogenated hydrocarbon CH₂Cl₂ widely used as a solvent

Similar
DCMmethylene chloridemethylene dichlorideR-30

More synonyms by meaning

nouna nonflammable liquid used as a solvent and paint remover and refrigerant

Similar
methylene chloride
Broader
chloride
Also see
methylene chloride

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*dwóh₁
  2. Proto-Indo-European*dwi-
  3. Proto-Hellenic*dwi-
  4. Ancient Greekδῐ- (dĭ-)
  5. Latindi-
  6. Englishdi-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*ǵʰelh₃-
  8. Proto-Indo-European*ǵʰl̥h₃rós
  9. Proto-Hellenic*kʰlōrós
  10. Ancient Greekχλωρός (khlōrós)
  11. Englishchloro-
  12. Proto-Indo-European*médʰu
  13. Proto-Hellenic*métʰu
  14. Ancient Greekμέθυ (méthu)
  15. Proto-Indo-European*swel-der.?
  16. Ancient Greekῡ̔́λη (hū́lē)
  17. GermanMethy
  18. Englishmethyl
  19. Englishmethane
  20. Englishdichloromethane

From di- + chloro- + methane.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 二氯甲烷
  • 二氯甲烷 (èrlǜjiǎwán)an organic compound
Finnish dikloorimetaani, metyleenikloridi
  • dikloorimetaanian organic compound
  • metyleenikloridian organic compound
French dichlorométhane
  • dichlorométhanean organic compound
German Dichlormethan
  • Dichlormethanan organic compound
Romanian diclorometan
  • diclorometanan organic compound
Swedish diklormetan, metylenklorid
  • diklormetanan organic compound
  • metylenkloridan organic compound
Turkish diklorometan
  • diklorometanan organic compound
Cite this entry
APA

dichloromethane. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dichloromethane

MLA

“dichloromethane.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dichloromethane. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dichloromethane,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dichloromethane.

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