Adjacent Words

ethylene definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a flammable colorless gaseous alkene; obtained from petroleum and natural gas and used in manufacturing many other chemicals; sometimes used as an anesthetic [syn: ethylene, ethene]

Merriam Webster's

noun Date: circa 1852 1. a colorless flammable gaseous unsaturated hydrocarbon C₂H₄ that is found in coal gas, can be produced by pyrolysis of petroleum hydrocarbons, and occurs in plants functioning especially as a natural growth regulator that promotes the ripening of fruit 2. a divalent hydrocarbon group C₂H₄ derived from ethane • ethylenic adjective

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. Chem. a gaseous hydrocarbon of the alkene series, occurring in natural gas and used in the manufacture of polythene. Also called ETHENE. Usage: Chem. formula: C2H4 Phrases and idioms: ethylene glycol Chem. a colourless viscous hygroscopic liquid used as an antifreeze and in the manufacture of polyesters. Usage: Chem. formula: C2H6O2.: also called ETHANEDIOL. Derivatives: ethylenic adj.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Ethylene Eth"yl*ene (-[=e]n), n. [From Ethyl.] (Chem.) A colorless, gaseous hydrocarbon, C2H4, forming an important ingredient of illuminating gas, and also obtained by the action of concentrated sulphuric acid in alcohol. It is an unsaturated compound and combines directly with chlorine and bromine to form oily liquids (Dutch liquid), -- hence called olefiant gas. Called also ethene, elayl, and formerly, bicarbureted hydrogen.