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
Examples of ethylene in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Keep them away from any fruits and vegetables that naturally emit ethylene, a gas that speeds up ripening of anything in their orbit.
—
Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2024
Under the bombardment of sunlight, methane ice transforms to reactive gaseous particles that eventually fuse into larger aerosol molecules such as acetylene, ethylene and ethane.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
Conventional electrolytes, typically based on carbonate solvents like ethylene carbonate and dimethyl carbonate, have several drawbacks.
—Matthew Dawson, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
Alliums are ethylene producers and can cause other fresh foods to spoil faster.
—Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2024
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Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2024
Under the bombardment of sunlight, methane ice transforms to reactive gaseous particles that eventually fuse into larger aerosol molecules such as acetylene, ethylene and ethane.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
Conventional electrolytes, typically based on carbonate solvents like ethylene carbonate and dimethyl carbonate, have several drawbacks.
—Matthew Dawson, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
Alliums are ethylene producers and can cause other fresh foods to spoil faster.
—Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ethylene
Dictionary Entries Near ethylene
Cite this Entry
“Ethylene.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethylene. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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