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
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The test results show that the largest electrode was effective at producing ethylene from CO2, reaching about 75 percent Faradaic efficiency (FE) while requiring a lower voltage than the traditional GDE design.
—
IEEE Spectrum, 18 Dec. 2024
Non-climacteric fruits, including pineapple, may soften and the skin might turn more yellow when exposed to ethylene, but no changes in internal ripeness occur once a pineapple is picked.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 June 2024
The silicone caps help to slow the absorption of ethylene gas, which helps prevent them from turning brown.
—Cai Cramer, People.com, 4 Dec. 2024
The remaining 10% is byproducts, largely ethylene and hydrogen.
—Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ethylene 
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IEEE Spectrum, 18 Dec. 2024
Non-climacteric fruits, including pineapple, may soften and the skin might turn more yellow when exposed to ethylene, but no changes in internal ripeness occur once a pineapple is picked.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 June 2024
The silicone caps help to slow the absorption of ethylene gas, which helps prevent them from turning brown.
—Cai Cramer, People.com, 4 Dec. 2024
The remaining 10% is byproducts, largely ethylene and hydrogen.
—Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 23 Oct. 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 27 Dec. 2024.
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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