acetylene

noun

acet·​y·​lene ə-ˈse-tᵊl-ən 

-tᵊl-ˌēn

: a colorless gaseous hydrocarbon HC≡CH used chiefly in organic synthesis and as a fuel (as in welding and soldering)

acetylenic

ə-ˌse-tᵊl-ˈē-nik 

-ˈe-nik

adjective

Examples of acetylene in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Those units are expected to provide up to 30 tons of annual production capacity beginning in September 2026 after construction related to acetylene storage is completed. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 July 2026

Building up a database To make the cosmic dust, Losurdo started with nitrogen, carbon dioxide and acetylene — a colorless, odorless gas made up of carbon and hydrogen. — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026

Other add-ons that can be seen on bikes in the museum’s collection include acetylene gas headlamps, map cases, tool-carrying attachments and, for ladies’ bicycles, a skirt guard so the fabric would not become tangled in the wheel spokes. — Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026

The gang makes it out of that situation more or less fine, but surprise — acetylene has been leaking out accidentally the entire time. — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French acétylène, from acétyle acetyl + -ène -ene

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for acetylene

• adamantine
• adenosine
• amphetamine
• anthropocene
• apoprotein
• aquamarine
• arsphenamine
• azobenzene
• buprenorphine
• catecholamine
• chlorobenzene
• chlorpromazine

Kids Definition

acetylene

noun

acet·​y·​lene ə-ˈset-ᵊl-ən 

-ᵊl-ˌēn

: a compound of carbon and hydrogen that is a colorless gas used chiefly in welding and soldering and in making chemical compounds

Medical Definition

acetylene

noun

acet·​y·​lene ə-ˈset-ᵊl-ən  -ᵊl-ˌēn 

: a colorless gaseous hydrocarbon HC≡CH made especially by the action of water on calcium carbide and used chiefly in organic synthesis and as a fuel (as in welding and soldering)

called also ethyne

acetylenic

ə-ˌset-ᵊl-ˈē-nik  -ˈen-ik 

adjective