noun.
A colorless flammable gas, C2H4, derived from natural gas and petroleum and also occurring as a natural plant hormone, used as a source of many organic compounds, in welding and cutting metals, to ripen citrus fruits, and as an anesthetic.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
noun.
C2H4. A colorless poisonous gas having an unpleasant, suffocating smell.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
noun.
A colorless, gaseous hydrocarbon, C2H4, forming an important ingredient of illuminating gas, and also obtained by the action of concentrated sulphuric acid in alcohol. It is an unsaturated compound and combines directly with chlorine and bromine to form oily liquids (Dutch liquid), -- hence called olefiant gas. Called also ethene, elayl, and formerly, bicarbureted hydrogen.
noun.
the series of unsaturated hydrocarbons of which ethylene is the type, and represented by the general formula CnH2n.
noun.
The common name for the organicchemicalcompoundethene. The simplest alkene, a colorless gaseous (at room temperature and pressure) hydrocarbon with the chemical formula C2H4.
noun.
The divalentradical derived from ethane.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
noun.
a flammable colorless gaseous alkene; obtained from petroleum and natural gas and used in manufacturing many other chemicals; sometimes used as an anesthetic
Word Usage
"According to Pemex, this will reduce imports by enabling the domestic manufacture of certain ethylene derivatives that are currently only available from overseas producers."