a colourless oily volatile flammable water-insoluble liquid made from ethylene and benzene. It is an unsaturated compound and readily polymerizes: used in making synthetic plastics and rubbers. Formula: C6H5CH:CH2
See also polystyrene
Word origin
C20: from styr(ax) + -ene
styrene in American English
(ˈstaɪˌrin; ˈstɪrˌin)
noun
a colorless or yellowish, easily polymerized, aromatic liquid, C6H5CH:CH2, used in organic synthesis, esp. in manufacturing synthetic rubber and plastics