Definition of "benzene"

benzene

/ˈbɛnziːn/

noun
usually uncountable, plural benzenes
1. (organic chemistry) An aromatic hydrocarbon of formula C6H6 whose structure consists of a ring of alternate single and double bonds.
  Quotations
  Furthermore, this increase in risk is comparable to the risk of death from leukemia after long-term exposure to benzene, another solvent, which has the well-known property of causing this type of cancer.
  2013 July-August, Philip J. Bushnell, “Solvents, Ethanol, Car Crashes & Tolerance”, in American Scientist
2. (organic chemistry, in combination) Sometimes used in place of the phenyl group.