ethylene
noun
eth·yl·ene
ˈe-thə-ˌlēn 
1
: a colorless flammable gaseous unsaturated hydrocarbon C2H4 that is found in coal gas, can be produced by pyrolysis of petroleum hydrocarbons, and occurs in plants functioning especially as a natural growth regulator that promotes the ripening of fruit
2
: a divalent hydrocarbon group C2H4 derived from ethane
Examples of ethylene in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Manufacturing those products also emits other pollutants into the air and many cracking plants — so ethylene cracking plants make up the basic building blocks of plastics — and many of them are put in areas that are poor populations.
—
Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024
The ethylene gas from the other fruit will help the banana ripen faster, according to Frontiers for Young Minds.
—USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024
Previous air monitoring, between 2011-17, also indicated elevated risks of cancer and other health hazards, largely due to ethylene dichloride and the related chemical vinyl chloride.
—Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 25 Jan. 2024
Most off-the-shelf keyboard cases will be made from either ABS or AES (acrylonitrile ethylene styrene) plastic.
—Henri Robbins, WIRED, 25 Jan. 2024
This is the low-effort trick for you: Storing your bananas in a paper bag traps the fruits’ naturally occurring ethylene gas, which expedites the ripening process.
—Zoe Denenberg, Bon Appétit, 13 Dec. 2023
In a paper bag, place hard avocados and a banana, kiwi, red delicious apple, or golden delicious apple (those two varieties produce more ethylene than other apple varieties).
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2023
Bananas and apples both produce ethylene gas, which can speed up the ripening process.
—Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2023
Air flow disperses ethylene, a gas created by fruits like apples and pears that speeds up ripening.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 21 Aug. 2023
Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024
The ethylene gas from the other fruit will help the banana ripen faster, according to Frontiers for Young Minds.
—USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024
Previous air monitoring, between 2011-17, also indicated elevated risks of cancer and other health hazards, largely due to ethylene dichloride and the related chemical vinyl chloride.
—Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 25 Jan. 2024
Most off-the-shelf keyboard cases will be made from either ABS or AES (acrylonitrile ethylene styrene) plastic.
—Henri Robbins, WIRED, 25 Jan. 2024
This is the low-effort trick for you: Storing your bananas in a paper bag traps the fruits’ naturally occurring ethylene gas, which expedites the ripening process.
—Zoe Denenberg, Bon Appétit, 13 Dec. 2023
In a paper bag, place hard avocados and a banana, kiwi, red delicious apple, or golden delicious apple (those two varieties produce more ethylene than other apple varieties).
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2023
Bananas and apples both produce ethylene gas, which can speed up the ripening process.
—Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2023
Air flow disperses ethylene, a gas created by fruits like apples and pears that speeds up ripening.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 21 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ethylene.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing ethylene
Dictionary Entries Near ethylene
Cite this Entry
“Ethylene.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethylene. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
ethylene
noun
eth·yl·ene
ˈeth-ə-ˌlēn
: a colorless flammable gas found in coal gas or obtained from petroleum and used to ripen fruits or as an anesthetic
Medical Definition
ethylene
noun
eth·yl·ene
ˈeth-ə-ˌlēn
1
: a colorless flammable gaseous unsaturated hydrocarbon C2H4 that is found in coal gas, can be produced by pyrolysis of petroleum hydrocarbons, is used in medicine as a general inhalation anesthetic, and occurs in plants functioning especially as a natural growth regulator that promotes the ripening of fruit
called also ethene
2
: a divalent hydrocarbon group C2H4 derived from ethane
More from Merriam-Webster on ethylene
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ethylene
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