chlorofluorocarbon

[ klawr-oh-floo r-oh-kahr-buh n, -flawr-; klohr-oh-floo r-oh-kahr-buh n, -flohr- ]
/ ˌklɔr oʊˌflʊər oʊˈkɑr bən, -ˌflɔr-; ˌkloʊr oʊˌflʊər oʊˈkɑr bən, -ˌfloʊr- /

noun

any of several volatile, inert, saturated compounds of carbon, fluorine, chlorine, and hydrogen: used as refrigerants, foam-blowing agents, solvents, and, formerly, as aerosol propellants until scientists became concerned about depletion of the atmospheric ozone layer.

Origin of chlorofluorocarbon

First recorded in 1945–50; chloro-2 + fluorocarbon

British Dictionary definitions for chlorofluorocarbon

chlorofluorocarbon
/ (ˌklɔːrəˌflʊərəʊˈkɑːbən) /

noun

chem any of various gaseous compounds of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, and fluorine, used as refrigerants, aerosol propellants, solvents, and in foam: some cause a breakdown of ozone in the earth's atmosphere Abbreviation: CFC

Scientific definitions for chlorofluorocarbon

chlorofluorocarbon
[ klôr′ō-flur′ō-kärbən ]

A fluorocarbon containing chlorine. Chlorofluorocarbons are destructive to the Earth's ozone layer. For this reason, the production and use of chlorofluorocarbons has been sharply reduced in recent years.