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

ethylenic

ˌe-thə-ˈlē-nik  -ˈle-nik 

adjective

Examples of ethylene in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Currently, about 15% to 20% of the pyrolysis products are recycled into new propylene and ethylene, while most – about 80% to 85% – becomes diesel fuel, hydrogen, methane and other chemicals. —Alexander Kaplitz, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2025

To make plastic, petroleum refineries isolate hydrocarbons and then crack those hydrocarbons into even smaller compounds like ethylene or propylene. —Megha Satyanarayana, Scientific American, 14 Feb. 2025

South Carolina exported $223 million in the flexible polymer ethylene copolymers to the EU in 2024 (59% of its exports to the world). —Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2025

Keep Roses Away from Apples and Bananas Both apples and bananas produce a lot of ethylene gas, which speeds up ripening in fruits and flowers. —Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ethylene

• ethylene dibromide
• ethylene glycol
• ethylene oxide

Rhymes for ethylene

• acrolein
• adenine
• alkylene
• aniline
• anthracene
• aquiline
• asphaltene
• atlantean
• atrazine
• butadiene
• butylene
• caesarean

Kids 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

ethylenic

ˌeth-ə-ˈlē-nik  -ˈlen-ik 

adjective

ethylenically

-ˈlē-ni-k(ə-)lē  -ˈlen-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb