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

If the gas nozzle became clogged or leaked, pockets of concentrated acetylene could build up and ignite, causing localized explosions. — Matthew MacConnell, ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026

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

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