methyl alcohol

(organic chemistry) CH₃OH A colorless, toxic, flammable liquid, boiling at 64.5°C, miscible with water, ether, alcohol; used in manufacture of formaldehyde, chemical synthesis, antifreeze for autos, and as a solvent. Also known as methanol; wood alcohol.

The first member of the alcohol series, chemically CH₃—OH. It is highly toxic and leads to mental disturbance, blindness, and death when consumed over a period. It is added to industrial alcohol and methylated spirits, to ‘denature’ the ethyl alcohol and render it undrinkable. See alcohol, denatured.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: a light volatile flammable poisonous liquid alcohol; used as an antifreeze and solvent and fuel and as a denaturant for ethyl alcohol
  Synonyms: methanol, wood alcohol, wood spirit