carbon tetrachloride
noun
a colorless, nonflammable, vaporous, toxic liquid, CCl4, usually produced by the reaction of chlorine with carbon disulfide, methane, or other carbon-containing compounds: used mainly as a refrigerant, fire extinguisher, cleaning fluid, solvent, and insecticide.
Also called
tetrachloromethane,
perchloromethane.
Origin of carbon tetrachloride
First recorded in 1900–05
Words nearby carbon tetrachloride
carbon sequestration,
carbon sink,
carbon star,
carbon steel,
carbon tax,
carbon tetrachloride,
carbon tissue,
carbon trading,
carbon value,
carbon well,
carbon-14 dating
British Dictionary definitions for carbon tetrachloride
carbon tetrachloride
noun
a colourless volatile nonflammable sparingly soluble liquid made from chlorine and carbon disulphide; tetrachloromethane. It is used as a solvent, cleaning fluid, and insecticide. Formula: CCl 4
Medical definitions for carbon tetrachloride
carbon tetrachloride
n.
A poisonous, nonflammable, colorless liquid used in fire extinguishers and as a dry-cleaning fluid.
tetrachloromethane
Scientific definitions for carbon tetrachloride
carbon tetrachloride
A colorless, nonflammable, poisonous liquid having a strong odor. It is used to make refrigerants, aerosol propellants, and pharmaceuticals. It is also used in petroleum refining and as a solvent. Until the mid-1960s, it was used as a cleaning fluid and in fire extinguishers. Chemical formula: CCl4.