perchloroethylene

[ per-klawr-oh-eth-uh-leen, -klohr- ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. tetrachloroethylene.

perchloroethylene

/ pəˌklɔːrəʊˈɛθiːn; pəˌklɔːrəʊˈɛθɪliːn /

noun

1. a colourless liquid used as a dry-cleaning solvent. Formula: CCl 2 :CCl 2

perchloroethylene

/ pər-klôr′ō-ĕth′ə-lēn′ /

1. See tetrachloroethylene

Word History and Origins

Origin of perchloroethylene¹

First recorded in 1870–75; perchloro- + ethylene