a colourless flammable gaseous alkene with a sweet odour, obtained from petroleum and natural gas and used in the manufacture of polythene and many other chemicals. Formula: CH2:CH2
Also called: ethene
Derived forms
ethylenic (ˌɛθɪˈliːnɪk)
adjective
ethylene in American English
(ˈɛθəlˌin)
US
noun
a colorless, flammable, gaseous alkene, H2C:CH2, obtained by the cracking of natural or coal gas, by the dehydration of alcohol, etc.: it is the simplest alkene and is used to synthesize organic chemicals, esp. polyethylene, to hasten the ripening of fruits, and as an anesthetic
Word origin
ethyl + -ene
Examples of 'ethylene' in a sentence
ethylene
And now, with the ethylene oxide hijack, they've got something definite to sink their teeth into.
Terman, Douglas CORMORANT
Two days ago, they round the second ethylene oxide tank truck.
Terman, Douglas CORMORANT
`One doesn't buy ethylene oxide, Karl - not in the quantity we need.