acetylene

[ uh-set-l-een, -in ]
/ əˈsɛt lˌin, -ɪn /

noun Chemistry.

a colorless gas, C2H2, having an etherlike odor, produced usually by the action of water on calcium carbide or by pyrolysis of natural gas: used especially in metal cutting and welding, as an illuminant, and in organic synthesis.
Also called ethine, ethyne.

Origin of acetylene

First recorded in 1860–65; acetyl + -ene

OTHER WORDS FROM acetylene

a·cet·y·len·ic [uh-set-l-en-ik] /əˌsɛt lˈɛn ɪk/, adjective

Words nearby acetylene

acetylation, acetylbenzene, acetylcholine, acetylcholinesterase, acetylcysteine, acetylene, acetylene series, acetylformic acid, acetylic, acetylide, acetylize

Example sentences from the Web for acetylene

British Dictionary definitions for acetylene

acetylene
/ (əˈsɛtɪˌliːn) /

noun

a colourless flammable gas used in the manufacture of organic chemicals and in cutting and welding metals. Formula: C 2 H 2 Systematic name: ethyne
  1. another name for alkyne
  2. (as modifier)acetylene series

Derived forms of acetylene

acetylenic (əˌsɛtɪˈlɛnɪk), adjective

Medical definitions for acetylene

acetylene
[ ə-sĕt′l-ēn′, -ən ]

n.

A colorless, highly flammable, and explosive gas used for metal welding and cutting and as an illuminant.

Scientific definitions for acetylene

acetylene
[ ə-sĕt′l-ēn′, -ən ]

A colorless, highly flammable or explosive gas with a characteristic sweet odor. It is used in welding torches and in the manufacture of organic chemicals such as vinyl chloride. Acetylene is the simplest alkyne, consisting of two carbon atoms joined by a triple bond and each attached to a single hydrogen atom. Also called ethyne. Chemical formula: C2H2.