1. A volatile, flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixture obtained from petroleum or coal tar, used as a solvent and in organic synthesis.
Usage: chemistry; technical; chiefly British

Examples

• Cymogenes was historically used in laboratory settings as a cleaning solvent.
• The chemist extracted cymogenes from the distillation of coal tar.
• Cymogenes has largely been replaced by safer synthetic solvents in modern industry.
• The volatile nature of cymogenes requires careful handling and storage.
• Early petroleum refining processes produced cymogenes as a byproduct.