biphenyl: Meaning and Definition of

bi•phen•yl

Pronunciation: (bī-fen'l, -fēn'l), [key]
— n. Chem.
  1. a water-insoluble, pleasant-smelling, colorless powder or white scales, CH, composed of two phenyl groups, from which benzidine dyes are derived: used chiefly as a heat-transfer agent and in organic synthesis. Also called
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.