ethylene oxide

noun Chemistry.

a colorless, odorless, gaseous, toxic, ring compound, C2H4O, usually obtained by the oxidation of ethylene: used chiefly in the synthesis of ethylene glycol.

Origin of ethylene oxide

First recorded in 1895–1900

Words nearby ethylene oxide

ethylene alcohol, ethylene dibromide, ethylene dichloride, ethylene glycol, ethylene group, ethylene oxide, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, ethylic, ethylidene, ethylvinyl ether, ethyne