The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Methylene \Meth"yl*ene\, n. [F. m['e]thyl[`e]ne, from Gr. ? wine
+ ? wood; -- a word coined to correspond to the name wood
spirit.] (Chem.)
A divalent hydrocarbon radical, -CH2-, not known in the
free state, but regarded as an essential residue and
component of certain derivatives of methane; as, methylene
bromide, CH2Br2; -- formerly called also methene.
[1913 Webster]
Methylene blue (Chem.), an artificial dyestuff consisting
of a complex sulphur derivative of diphenyl amine; --
called also pure blue.
[1913 Webster]