ethylene

noun

eth·yl·ene | \ ˈe-thə-ˌlēn

Definition of ethylene

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

Other Words from ethylene Example Sentences Learn More About ethylene

Examples of ethylene in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web At least 120 ethylene manufacturing projects are under construction or in the initial stages of development worldwide, said Dayanand Kharade, an oil and gas analyst at GlobalData, a data analysis and consulting firm. — Hannah Rappleye, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2021 There, the air circulation kept the ethylene gas naturally emitted by the lemons from prematurely ripening the fruit. — Zoey Poll, Harper’s Magazine , 7 Dec. 2021 Outside the refrigerator, stave off sprouting by separating potatoes from such ethylene producers as apples and onions. — Washington Post, 14 Oct. 2021 In 2012, Pennsylvania's leaders bet big on Shell by authorizing a tax credit worth about $1.65 billion for ethylene projects. — Hannah Rappleye, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2021 Midsoles are made of foams with technical-sounding names like ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) or polyurethane (PU), which trap air in small cells to absorb the shock of each footstrike. — Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 27 Oct. 2021 Dow is announcing plans today to build the world’s first zero-carbon ethylene and polyethylene complex at its Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, facility. — David Meyer, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2021 The unit where the explosion occurred is used in the production of ethylene and was undergoing maintenance at the time, according to NBC affiliate KPLC of Lake Charles. — NBC News, 28 Sep. 2021 Record plastic prices are poised to push even higher as a storm that’s forecast to evolve into a major hurricane bears down on the U.S. Gulf Coast region that manufactures almost 20% of the world’s ethylene. — Bloomberg Wire, Dallas News, 28 Aug. 2021

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

Learn More About ethylene

Dictionary Entries Near ethylene

ethyl cyanide

ethylene

ethylene chlorohydrin

Statistics for ethylene

Last Updated

19 Jan 2022

Cite this Entry

“Ethylene.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethylene. Accessed 26 Jan. 2022.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster Check Mark Icon

More Definitions for ethylene

ethylene

noun

eth·yl·ene | \ ˈeth-ə-ˌlēn

Medical Definition of ethylene

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

Other Words from ethylene

ethylenic \ ˌeth-ə-ˈlē-nik

, -ˈlen-ik

\ adjective

ethylenically \ -ˈlē-ni-k(ə-)lē

, -ˈlen-i-k(ə-)lē

\ adverb