metanolo

methanol

noun meh-tah-NOH-loh Rare

Origin: From Greek methy (wine) + hyle (wood) + -ol (alcohol suffix); named 'wood alcohol'.

Also means

methyl alcohol

Usage Note

Metanolo is the chemical term for methyl alcohol (wood alcohol), distinct from metano (methane gas) — a common confusion for learners. It is a toxic substance; ingestion causes blindness or death. In Italian, it is also written as alcol metilico in technical contexts.

Examples

"Il metanolo è una sostanza molto tossica."

Natural Translation

Methanol is a very toxic substance.

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