Acetylene

//əˈsɛtəlˌin// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Any organic compound having one or more carbon–carbon triple bonds; an alkyne. countable

    "The acetylene gas lighting in the station offices and platforms at Kyle of Lochalsh recently has been replaced by electric lighting."

  2. 2
    a colorless flammable gas used chiefly in welding and in organic synthesis wordnet
  3. 3
    Ethyne; the simplest alkyne, a hydrocarbon of formula HC≡CH. It is a colourless, odourless, extremely flammable, explosive gas, formerly used as an illuminating gas, but now used in welding and metallurgy. uncountable
  4. 4
    A lamp powered by acetylene, particularly a motor vehicle headlight. countable, uncountable

    "Mrs. Winnie had kindly sent her limousine car for them, and it stood throbbing in front of the hotel-entrance, its acetylenes streaming far up the street."

Etymology

Borrowed from French acétylène, coined by French chemist Marcellin Berthelot, from acetyl + -ene.

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