olefin

ole·fin

noun \ˈō-lə-fən\

Definition of OLEFIN

1

: alkene

2

: a synthetic fiber (as polypropylene) derived from an alkene

— ole·fin·ic \ˌō-lə-ˈfi-nik\ adjective

Origin of OLEFIN

International Scientific Vocabulary, from French (gaz) oléfiant ethylene, from Latin oleum

First Known Use: 1860

ole·fin

noun \ˈō-lə-fən\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of OLEFIN

: alkene

—ole·fin·ic \ˌō-lə-ˈfin-ik\ (audio pronunciation) adjective

olefin

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any unsaturated hydrocarbon containing one or more pairs of carbon atoms linked by a double bond (see covalent bond, saturation). Olefins may be classified by whether the double bond is in a ring (cyclic) or a chain (acyclic, or aliphatic) or by the number of double bonds (monoolefin, diolefin, etc.). Rare in nature, olefins are obtained by the cracking of petroleum fractions at high temperatures. The simplest ones (ethylene, propylene, butylene, butadiene, and isoprene) are the basis of the petrochemicals industry. They react by adding other chemical agents at the double bond to form derivatives or polymers.

Variants of OLEFIN

olefin or alkene