ethylene

noun

eth·​yl·​ene ˈe-thə-ˌlēn How to pronounce ethylene (audio)
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

Examples of ethylene in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The ethylene gas will cause fruits and vegetables sharing the refrigerator to ripen and rot more quickly. Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Aug. 2023 What to Look for in the Best Chlorine Shampoos When searching for the best chlorine shampoos, look for ingredients like apple cider vinegar, ethylene diamine tetra acetic-acid (EDTA), sodium thiosulfate, charcoal, and crystallized vitamin C to effectively remove chlorine. Joseph Cheatham, Men's Health, 17 July 2023 Available in over 30 different styles, these synthetic shoes were designed with an ethylene vinyl acetate sole and ventilation ports for breathability (hello, summer!). Sabrina Talbert, Women's Health, 21 June 2023 Midsoles are typically made from lighter and softer ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, or stiffer, more durable polyurethane (PU) foam. Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 13 May 2023 On top of limiting emissions of 80 pollutants, chemical plants for the first time would monitor for six chemicals — benzene, ethylene oxide, chloroprene, vinyl chloride, ethylene dichloride and 1,3-butadiene — at the fence line, or perimeter, of their facilities. Lisa Song, ProPublica, 13 Apr. 2023 The Bosch 800 Series helps prevent food waste by using a system that includes FreshProtect, absorbing naturally occurring ethylene and slowing down ripening. Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Apr. 2023 Apples, bananas and pears produce the most ethylene gas, so store them away from other fruits. Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 14 June 2023 Power outages caused by the storm triggered a release of ethylene dichloride from a storage tank at a plastics plant in Plaquemine operated by Shintech, a subsidiary of the Japanese industrial giant Shin-Etsu. Hiroko Tabuchi, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ethylene.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ethylene was in 1849

Dictionary Entries Near ethylene

Cite this Entry

“Ethylene.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethylene. Accessed 28 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

ethylene

noun
eth·​yl·​ene ˈeth-ə-ˌlēn How to pronounce ethylene (audio)
: a colorless flammable gas found in coal gas or obtained from petroleum and used to ripen fruits or as an anesthetic

Medical Definition

ethylene

noun
eth·​yl·​ene ˈeth-ə-ˌlēn How to pronounce ethylene (audio)
1
: a colorless flammable gaseous unsaturated hydrocarbon C2H4 that is found in coal gas, can be produced by pyrolysis of petroleum hydrocarbons, is used in medicine as a general inhalation anesthetic, and occurs in plants functioning especially as a natural growth regulator that promotes the ripening of fruit

called also ethene

2
: a divalent hydrocarbon group C2H4 derived from ethane
ethylenic adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on ethylene

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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