An explosive constituent of ordinary illuminating gas; hastens ripening of fruit.
- e. tetrachloride SYN: tetrachlorethylene.
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eth·yl·ene 'eth-ə-.lēn n
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 esp. as a natural growth regulator that promotes the ripening of fruit called also ethene
2) a divalent hydrocarbon group C2H4 derived from ethane
eth·yl·enic .eth-ə-'lē-nik, -'len-ik adj
eth·yl·eni·cal·ly -'lē-ni-k(ə-)lē, -'len-i-k(ə-)lē adv
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eth·y·lene (ethґə-lēn) CH2
CH2, a colorless, flammable gas with a sweet taste and odor, formerly used as an inhalational anesthetic.
Medical dictionary. 2011.