benzopyrene

noun ben·zo·py·rene \ˌben-zō-ˈpī-ˌrēn, -pī-ˈrēn\

Definition of BENZOPYRENE

: a yellow crystalline carcinogenic hydrocarbon C₂₀H₁₂ found in coal tar —called also benzo[a]pyrene

International Scientific Vocabulary benz- + pyrene a crystalline hydrocarbon C₁₆H₁₀, from pyr- + -ene

First Known Use: 1936

Medical Dictionary

noun ben·zo·py·rene \ˌben-zō-ˈpī(ə)r-ˌēn, -pī-ˈrēn\

: a mixture of two isomeric hydrocarbons C₂₀H₁₂ of which one is highly carcinogenic—see benzo[a]pyrene

ben·zo·py·rene or benz·py·rene \benz-ˈpī(ə)r-ˌēn, ˌbenz-pī-ˈrēn\

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