acetylene

noun

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acet·y·lene | \ ə-ˈse-tᵊl-ən

, -tᵊl-ˌēn \

Definition of acetylene

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

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Recent Examples on the Web The Sun later said the blaze was started by a worker using an acetylene torch to repair an oil barge in the yard of the Chesapeake Marine Railway Co. at Philpot and Point streets. — Jacques Kelly, baltimoresun.com, 24 Apr. 2021 What’s more, acetylene-munching microbes on Earth can draw energy from the organic compound. — National Geographic, 6 Dec. 2019 The gun seen firing in the film is another mock-up which was not mounted on the helicopter and which consisted of metal tubing with spark plugs to ignite acetylene as it was blown through the barrels. — Peter Opaskar, Ars Technica, 10 Jan. 2020 Where electricity was not available, the city used gas acetylene tanks to illuminate warning traffic safety signs. — Jacques Kelly, baltimoresun.com, 19 Oct. 2019 But putting shaped clay in a kiln is less risky than the local artist’s current project: applying an acetylene torch to paper. — Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 19 July 2019 The Warped Perception folks experiment with using isopropyl alcohol and acetylene as fuels instead of gas, and the engine clearly doesn't care too much for those. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, 16 Jan. 2017 Authorities initially said the explosion had been caused by a truck carrying acetylene, another extremely flammable compound, that had been entering a different facility near the Shenghua plant. — Josh Chin, WSJ, 30 Nov. 2018 Other products made at the plant include PVC resins, caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, oxygen, chlorine, dissolved acetylene, coated kettle agent, water treatment chemicals and new building materials, according to the company website. — Christopher Bodeen, The Seattle Times, 28 Nov. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'acetylene.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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5 May 2021

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“Acetylene.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acetylene. Accessed 22 Jun. 2021.

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More Definitions for acetylene

acetylene

noun

English Language Learners Definition of acetylene

: a gas that burns with a very hot flame which is used to melt and connect pieces of metal

See the full definition for acetylene in the English Language Learners Dictionary

acetylene

noun

acet·y·lene | \ ə-ˈset-ᵊl-ən

, -ᵊl-ˌēn

Medical Definition of acetylene

: 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