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demeton

Very Low
UK/ˈdɛmɪtɒn/US/ˈdɛmɪtɑːn/

Technical/Scientific

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Definition

Meaning

A systemic organophosphorus insecticide and acaricide.

A specific chemical compound (C8H19O3PS2) used in agriculture to control sucking insects and mites by being absorbed into the plant's system.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

This is a highly specific technical term from the field of agrochemistry. It is not used in general language and has no metaphorical extensions. It refers to a particular substance, not a class.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant differences in usage; the term is identical in both technical registers.

Connotations

Purely technical/chemical; carries connotations of agricultural pest control and potential toxicity.

Frequency

Extremely rare in both varieties, confined to specialized agricultural or chemical texts. Historical usage may be more common as its commercial use has declined.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
demeton-S-methylapply demetonformulation of demeton
medium
toxic demetonsystemic demetondemeton concentration
weak
use demetoncontain demetonbased on demeton

Grammar

Valency Patterns

The [SUBSTANCE] demeton was used to control [PEST].[PEST] was treated with demeton.

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

demeton-S-methyl sulfoxide (a related compound)

Neutral

organophosphate insecticidesystemic pesticide

Weak

pesticideinsecticideacaricide

Vocabulary

Antonyms

organic fertiliserbiocontrol agentpredatory insect

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “None”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Might appear in historical reports of agrochemical companies or regulatory documents.

Academic

Used in chemistry, toxicology, and agricultural science papers, especially those discussing organophosphates.

Everyday

Virtually never used.

Technical

Primary context: agrochemical labelling, safety data sheets, environmental science reports on pesticide residues.

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

  • The crop was demeton-treated to combat aphids.

American English

  • They demeton-treated the field for mite control.

adverb

British English

  • Not applicable.

American English

  • Not applicable.

adjective

British English

  • The demeton residue levels were monitored.

American English

  • A demeton-based formulation was tested.

Examples

By CEFR Level

A2
  • This word is too technical for A2 level.
B1
  • Farmers sometimes use chemicals like demeton.
B2
  • Demeton is an organophosphate that acts as a systemic insecticide.
C1
  • The use of demeton has been restricted in many countries due to its high mammalian toxicity and persistence in the environment.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: DEMolish pests with this chemical, and it gets inTO the plant's system → DEM-ETON.

Conceptual Metaphor

Not applicable; a concrete substance term.

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

  • Do not confuse with 'демон' (demon).
  • The '-ton' ending is not related to the unit of weight.

Common Mistakes

  • Misspelling as 'demetone' or 'dementon'.
  • Using it as a general term for insecticide instead of a specific compound.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
As a insecticide, demeton is absorbed by the plant and kills pests that feed on its sap.
Multiple Choice

In which field is the term 'demeton' primarily used?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Its use has been heavily restricted or banned in many countries due to high toxicity.

It means the chemical is absorbed into the plant's tissues and circulates within its sap, protecting it from the inside.

No, it is a professional-grade agricultural chemical with significant handling risks.

It is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, highly toxic to the nervous system of insects, mammals, and humans.