fullerene

noun

ful·​ler·​ene ˌfu̇-lə-ˈrēn 

: any of a class of closed hollow aromatic carbon compounds whose structures are made up of twelve pentagonal and differing numbers of hexagonal faces

especially : one having a roughly spherical shape

Examples of fullerene in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 1999 a group led by Austrian physicist Anton Zeilinger confirmed that fullerenes, large molecules consisting of 60 carbon atoms, behave just the same. — Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

The findings show that, while individual fullerene cages undergo reversible distortions, the overall bridged scaffold remains intact. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Dec. 2025

Graphite, diamond, fullerenes, and graphene are all carbon allotropes, and their diverse properties arise from the combination and arrangement of multiple types of bonds between their carbon atoms. — IEEE Spectrum, 23 June 2022

Word History

Etymology

after R. Buckminster fuller; from the resemblance of the molecules to the geodesic domes designed by Fuller

First Known Use

1987, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fullerene

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

Kids Definition

fullerene

noun

ful·​ler·​ene ˌfu̇l-ə-ˈrēn 

: any of various hollow carbon compounds