vinyl Chem.
(ˈvaɪnɪl, -aɪl)
[f. L. vīn-um + -yl.]
1. The organic radical or group CH2 = CH{b1}, which is equivalent to a molecule of ethylene with one hydrogen atom removed. Usu. attrib.
| 1863 Watts Dict. Chem. I. 675 Bromide of vinyl, C2H2 Br. 1873 ― Fownes' Chem. (ed. 11) 611 Vinyl alcohol..is produced by combining ethine or acetylene with sulphuric acid, whereby vinyl-sulphuric acid..is formed. Ibid. 612 The univalent radical vinyl..may be supposed to exist in it [vinyl alcohol]. |
2. a. = polyvinyl b. Freq.
attrib.| 1939 Nature 13 May 787/2 Resins more recently developed, such as vinyl and polystyrene, are slowly making headway. 1951 R. Mayer Artist's Hand-bk. Materials & Techniques iii. 152 The most promising synthetic varieties [of resin] at present are the alkyd, acrylic, and vinyl types. 1957 Times 18 Nov. 11/2 An unbreakable doll of vinyl, a glamorous young lady with elegant nylon⁓clad legs, costing 9 guineas. 1962 B.B.C. Handbk. 204 L.P. vinyl records giving basic pronunciation rules. 1969 J. H. Stickelmeyer in W. R. R. Park Plastics Film Technol. i. 7 Development of shrink wrapping techniques..has brightened the future for vinyls. 1976 P. Lively Stitch in Time viii. 98 There is paint that is non-drip and paint that is vinyl or emulsion and paint that is specially good for this, that or the other. 1982 Sci. Amer. July 54/1 Most synthetic organic materials such as vinyl or polyethylene are electrically insulating. |
b. spec. a covering material or fabric made of or containing polyvinyl.
| 1959 House & Garden July 11/2 (Advt.), Dining-chairs upholstered in washable vinyl. 1970 Interior Design Dec. 753/3 The walls are papered with a pale grey vinyl. 1978 S. Brill Teamsters vii. 263 The inside of the tractor..was lined along the doors, the seats, and the dashboard in brown vinyl. |
c. As the material of which gramophone records are made (so
piece of vinyl). Also, a record.
colloq.| 1976 New Musical Express 31 July 27/1 A trio of knock out vinyl magnum opi, the like of which are not often to be heard on our sound systems. 1976 Zigzag Apr. 26/1 This is as depressing a piece of vinyl as I've listened to in many a full moon. 1977 Ripped & Torn vi. 6/2, I had rushed home, clutching this piece of shiny vinyl to my chest. 1980 Musicians Only 26 Apr. 12/3 He can continually judge the results on vinyl. 1984 Sounds 1 Dec. 24/2 When that song..was released at the beginning of this month as the band's first single, the Immaculate Fools proved they could cut it equally well on vinyl. |
3. attrib. and
Comb., as (sense 2),
vinyl-coated,
vinyl-covered,
vinyl-faced,
vinyl-surfaced adjs.; (sense 1)
vinyl acetate, a colourless liquid ester, CH
2CH·O·CO·CH
3, used in the production of polyvinyl acetate and other commercially important polymers;
vinyl chloride, a colourless toxic gas, CH
2CHCl, used in the production of polyvinyl chloride and other commercially important polymers;
vinyl resin, any resin (
resin n. 3) that is composed of polyvinyl compounds.
| [1902 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. LXXXII. i. 256 Sodium vinyl⁓acetate is much less soluble in alcohol than sodium crotonate.] 1915 Chem. Abstr. IX. 2156 By acting with chem. rays on vinyl esters (vinyl acetate or vinyl chloracetate) solid masses are obtained..which..serve as a substitute for celluloid and like substances. 1974 Encycl. Brit. Micropædia VIII. 104/2 In addition to its conversion to polyvinyl acetate, vinyl acetate undergoes similar reactions with many other compounds. |
| 1872 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. XXV. 891 Vinyl chloride undergoes a change by the action of sunlight, producing an isomeride. 1933 [see polyvinyl chloride s.v. polyvinyl a]. 1978 N.Y. Times 30 Mar. a15/1 Fifty of the train's 116 cars left the tracks..and a tanker loaded with highly toxic vinyl chloride exploded soon afterward. |
| 1967 Jane's Surface Skimmer Systems 1967–68 47/1 The structure is decked in vinyl⁓coated nylon fabric, which is also used for the skirt. 1970 A. Ross Manchester Thing 148 Two vinyl-covered kitchen chairs. 1977 ‘E. Crispin’ Glimpses of Moon i. 11 The furniture was all modern, from the oak counter..to the green glass-topped tables and the matching vinyl-covered chairs. |
| 1960 Times 29 Nov. 2/4 Felt-backed vinyl-faced..flooring. |
| 1934 W. Davis Adv. of Sci. xiii. 141 The great versatility of the vinyl resins was strikingly demonstrated in a house which the Carbide and Carbon Chemicals Corporation erected. 1942 Gettens & Stout Painting Materials 3 Chemically, they [sc. polyacrylic resins] are closely related to the vinyl resins. 1943 Electronic Engin. XVI. 216/3 The variation of dielectric properties with plasticiser content is examined for the vinyl resins. 1983 Which? Oct. 453/1 These are water-thinned paints usually based on vinyl resins. |
| 1978 Morecambe Guardian 14 Mar. 6/6 Washable gloss paint and vinyl-surfaced wall coverings are immensely childproof. |