polyethylenen.
/ˌpɒlɪˈɛθᵻliːn/, /ˌpɒlɪˈɛθl̩iːn/, U.S. /ˌpɑliˈɛθəlin/ I. Compounds.
1. Chemistry. Forming the names of polymeric substances prepared from derivatives of ethylene.† a. polyethylene alcohol n. Obsolete = polyethylene glycol n. at sense 1b.
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the world > matter > chemistry > polymer chemistry > polymers (named others) > [noun] > polyethylene glycol
polyethylene alcohol1862
polyethylene glycol1886
polyglycol1889
PEG1959
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > synthetic resins and plastics > [noun] > other polymers
polyethylene alcohol1862
polyethylene glycol1886
polyglycol1889
polyanhydride1900
latex1912
polyether1922
polyvinyl alcohol1927
polyamide1929
polycarbonate1930
polyethylene oxide1930
polyacrylonitrile1935
bouncing putty1944
polyvinyl pyrrolidone1945
povidone1955
fibrid1960
1862 W. A. Miller Elements Chem. (ed. 2) III. 251 (note) These bodies [sc. glycol, diethylene alcohol and triethylene alcohol]..are termed polyethylene alcohols by Wurtz.
1884 H. E. Roscoe & C. Schorlemmer Treat. Chem. III. ii. 37 Ethylene glycol,..in its turn, combines with the free ethylene oxide to form polyethylene alcohols.
b. polyethylene glycol n. any polymer of ethylene glycol; esp. any of a series of water-soluble oligomers and polymers which have the structure H(OCH2CH2)nOH, of which the lower members are used as solvents and the higher are chiefly waxes; abbreviated PEG.
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the world > matter > chemistry > polymer chemistry > polymers (named others) > [noun] > polyethylene glycol
polyethylene alcohol1862
polyethylene glycol1886
polyglycol1889
PEG1959
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > synthetic resins and plastics > [noun] > other polymers
polyethylene alcohol1862
polyethylene glycol1886
polyglycol1889
polyanhydride1900
latex1912
polyether1922
polyvinyl alcohol1927
polyamide1929
polycarbonate1930
polyethylene oxide1930
polyacrylonitrile1935
bouncing putty1944
polyvinyl pyrrolidone1945
povidone1955
fibrid1960
1886 E. F. Smith tr. V. von Richter Chem. Carbon Compounds 258 (heading) Polyethylene glycols [Ger. Polyaethylenglycole] or alcohols.
1947 R. L. Wakeman Chem. Commercial Plastics xxvi. 779 Polyethylene glycols are..soluble in both water and aromatic hydrocarbons.
1993 Pop. Sci. June 122/2 A..company called Enzon..tags the molecule with a polyethylene glycol (PEG) chemical group. PEG prevents the hemoglobin from passing through the kidney and makes it circulate longer in the blood.
c. polyethylene oxide n. any polymer in which the repeating unit is the group —OCH2CH2—; esp. any of a class of thermoplastics of high molecular weight made from ethylene oxide or ethylene glycol (usually by copolymerization of both) and used esp. as water-soluble films.
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society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > synthetic resins and plastics > [noun] > other polymers
polyethylene alcohol1862
polyethylene glycol1886
polyglycol1889
polyanhydride1900
latex1912
polyether1922
polyvinyl alcohol1927
polyamide1929
polycarbonate1930
polyethylene oxide1930
polyacrylonitrile1935
bouncing putty1944
polyvinyl pyrrolidone1945
povidone1955
fibrid1960
the world > matter > chemistry > polymer chemistry > resins and plastics > [noun] > thermoplastic resins > polyethylene oxide
polyethylene oxide1930
Polyox1957
1930 Chem. Abstr. 24 3003 On cooling the fused polyethylene oxides they crystallize like paraffin.
1998 New Scientist 2 May 17/2 The chewable pills have layers of two common polymers—ethylcellulose and polyethylene oxide—to coat tiny beads of the drug.
d. polyethylene terephthalate n. a thermoplastic condensation polymer of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid which is widely used to make polyester fibres and drinks containers; abbreviated PET.
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the world > matter > chemistry > polymer chemistry > resins and plastics > [noun] > thermoplastic resins > other miscellaneous
polyphenylene oxide1921
polyamide1929
polycarbonate1930
polyacetal1931
polypropylene1935
polymethyl methacrylate1936
polyethylene terephthalate1946
Dacron1951
polyacrylic1959
polyallomer1962
ionomer1964
parylene1965
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > synthetic resins and plastics > [noun] > plastic > capable of hardening after heating or (re)shaping > specific thermoplastic materials
Rhodoid1918
polyphenylene oxide1921
picein1926
Parafilm1934
nylon1938
polyethylene1939
polythene1939
Saran1940
alkathene1941
polyethylene terephthalate1946
Visqueen1948
Lexan1956
1946 W. T. Astbury & C. J. Brown in Nature 14 Dec. 871 Polyethylene terephthalate (terylene) gives a well-oriented x-ray fibre diagram.
1993 Coloradoan (Fort Collins) 18 Apr. e4/1 About one-fourth of all plastic soda bottles, known as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are being recycled.
II. Simple uses. Chiefly North American.
2. = polythene n.
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the world > matter > chemistry > polymer chemistry > resins and plastics > [noun] > thermoplastic resins > polythene
polyethylene1939
polythene1939
poly1964
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > synthetic resins and plastics > [noun] > plastic > capable of hardening after heating or (re)shaping > specific thermoplastic materials
Rhodoid1918
polyphenylene oxide1921
picein1926
Parafilm1934
nylon1938
polyethylene1939
polythene1939
Saran1940
alkathene1941
polyethylene terephthalate1946
Visqueen1948
Lexan1956
1939 Plastics 3 289/1 Compounding polyethylenes with polyisobutylenes has yielded some very useful compounds.
1967 Economist 30 Sept. 1225/1 Heavy over-capacity seems to be on the way in Europe in the production of high-density polyethylene (polythene).
1989 Green Mag. Dec. 86/2 Ark packages its liquid detergents in polyethylene bottles with polypropylene caps and says that it is safe to burn these on a fire.
2001 Canoe & Kayak Mar. 82/2 Frames are made of wood or aluminum long pieces combined with cross ribs of polycarbonate or polyethylene.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1862