hexamethylenetetramine

US/ˌhɛk.səˌmɛθ.əˌlinˈtɛ.tɹəˌmin/

noun

A crystalline compound C₆H₁₂N₄ used especially as an accelerator in vulcanizing rubber.

OriginEnglish tetramine ← Latin ammoniacus ← Ancient Greek Ᾰ̓́μμων (Ắmmōn) →
Scrabble 42
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Meanings

nounhexamethylenetetramine (countable and uncountable, plural hexamethylenetetramines)

plural hexamethylenetetramines · alternative hexamethylene tetramine · alternative hexamine · alternative methenamine · alternative hexamethylenamin · alternative urotropin · alternative urotropine · alternative E239

  1. countableuncountablechemistryA crystalline compound C₆H₁₂N₄ used especially as an accelerator in vulcanizing rubber.

Origin

  1. Englishhexamethylene
  2. Proto-Indo-European*kʷetwóres
  3. Proto-Hellenic*kʷétwores
  4. Ancient Greekτέσσᾰρες (téssăres)
  5. Ancient Greekτετρᾰ- (tetră-)
  6. Englishtetra-
  7. Egyptianjmn
  8. Ancient GreekᾸ̓́μμων (Ắmmōn)
  9. LatinAmmōn
  10. Latinammoniacus
  11. Englishammonia
  12. Englishamine
  13. Englishtetramine
  14. Englishhexamethylenetetramine

From hexamethylene + tetramine.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

hexamethylenetetramine. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hexamethylenetetramine

MLA

“hexamethylenetetramine.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hexamethylenetetramine. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hexamethylenetetramine,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hexamethylenetetramine.

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