chlorofluoromethane

[ klawr-oh-floor-oh-meth-eyn, -flawr-; klohr-oh-floor-oh-meth-eyn, -flohr- ]

noun

1. any of a series of gaseous or volatile methanes substituted with chlorine and fluorine and containing little or no hydrogen: used as refrigerants and, formerly, as aerosol propellants until scientists became concerned about depletion of the atmospheric ozone layer.

Word History and Origins

Origin of chlorofluoromethane¹

First recorded in 1960–65; chloro- ² + fluoro- + methane