ethylene
noun
eth·yl·ene
ˈe-thə-ˌlēn 
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
Examples of ethylene in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Refrigeration slows pear ripening, while room temperature and exposure to ethylene-producing fruits help speed it up.
—
Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 8 Jan. 2026
Also called alkenes, the most important examples in industry include ethylene and propylene.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 4 Jan. 2026
Temperature, humidity, and even ethylene-producing fruits and veggies stored close by can all affect how quickly bananas ripen.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2025
The dome itself has a surface area of 128 sq m (1,378 sq ft), made up of transparent ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) panels for the outer skin, supported by VikingDome's T-STAR system of 245 steel structural bars, connected with 76 joins on the sphere and 10 on the base.
—New Atlas, 3 Dec. 2025
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Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 8 Jan. 2026
Also called alkenes, the most important examples in industry include ethylene and propylene.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 4 Jan. 2026
Temperature, humidity, and even ethylene-producing fruits and veggies stored close by can all affect how quickly bananas ripen.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2025
The dome itself has a surface area of 128 sq m (1,378 sq ft), made up of transparent ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) panels for the outer skin, supported by VikingDome's T-STAR system of 245 steel structural bars, connected with 76 joins on the sphere and 10 on the base.
—New Atlas, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ethylene
Cite this Entry
“Ethylene.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethylene. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ethylene
noun
eth·yl·ene
ˈeth-ə-ˌlēn
: 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
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
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