Chemical term describing an oxygen atom bound to two linked carbon atoms Generally, any cyclic ether, but commonly applied to a 3-membered ring; specifically, a three-membered ring is an oxirane, a four-membered ring is an oxetane, a five-membered ring is an oxolane, and a six-membered ring is an oxane; oxiranes are commonly produced from peracids acting on alkenes. Epoxys are important chemical intermediates and the basis of e. resins (polymers) formed from e. monomers.
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ep·oxy i-'päk-sē adj containing oxygen attached to two different atoms already united in some other way specif containing a 3-membered ring consisting of one oxygen and two carbon atoms
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(ə-pokґse) 1. epoxide. 2. see under resin.Medical dictionary. 2011.