tetraethyl lead

noun

tet·ra·eth·yl lead ˌte-trə-ˌe-thəl-ˈled

: a heavy oily poisonous liquid Pb(C₂H₅)₄ used especially formerly as an antiknock agent

Examples of tetraethyl lead in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Lead pollution rose throughout the Industrial Revolution, but exposure skyrocketed after the first gallon of gasoline with tetraethyl lead was sold in 1923. —

Michael J. Coren, Quartz, 16 June 2022 The avgas market is dominated by about eight US refineries and one (troubled) UK company producing the world’s supply of tetraethyl lead. —

Michael J. Coren, Quartz, 16 June 2022 The new fuel was tetraethyl lead. —

Bill Kovarik, The Conversation, 8 Dec. 2021 The dark truth about Ethyl is that everyone involved in its creation had seen incontrovertible evidence that tetraethyl lead was shockingly harmful to humans. —

Steven Johnson, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2023 Virtually every small airplane in the US burns fuel containing tetraethyl lead (TEL), an additive introduced in the 1920s to boost octane levels. —

David Yanofsky, Quartz, 16 June 2022 But humanity didn’t enter uncharted territory until the first gallon of gasoline was sold with tetraethyl lead in 1923. —

Michael J. Coren, Quartz, 16 June 2022 There was tetraethyl lead, used in making gasoline, sludge, asphalt, hydrocarbon liquids and vapors, solvents such as kerosene, acidic residue and asbestos. —

Kaitlin Durbin, cleveland, 4 Apr. 2022 One of the greatest historical sources of lead exposure was the use of tetraethyl lead in petrol at the beginning of the 20th century. —

Anuradha Varanasi, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tetraethyl lead.' 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

1923, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of tetraethyl lead was in 1923

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Dictionary Entries Near tetraethyl lead

tetraethyl

tetraethyl lead

tetraethyl orthosilicate

See More Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

Style

“Tetraethyl lead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tetraethyl%20lead. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.

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