acetylene

American  

[uh-set-l-een, -in] / əˈsɛt lˌin, -ɪn /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless gas, C 2 H 2 , having an etherlike odor, produced usually by the action of water on calcium carbide or by pyrolysis of natural gas: used especially in metal cutting and welding, as an illuminant, and in organic synthesis.

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acetylene British  

/ əˌsɛtɪˈlɛnɪk, əˈsɛtɪˌliːn /

noun

1. Systematic name: ethyne.  a colourless flammable gas used in the manufacture of organic chemicals and in cutting and welding metals. Formula: C 2 H 2

2. 1. another name for alkyne

   2. ( as modifier )

      acetylene series

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acetylene Scientific  

/ ə-sĕt′l-ēn′,-ən /

1. A colorless, highly flammable or explosive gas with a characteristic sweet odor. It is used in welding torches and in the manufacture of organic chemicals such as vinyl chloride. Acetylene is the simplest alkyne, consisting of two carbon atoms joined by a triple bond and each attached to a single hydrogen atom. Also called ethyne. Chemical formula: C ₂ H ₂ .

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Other Word Forms

• acetylenic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of acetylene

First recorded in 1860–65; acetyl + -ene

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

acetylene

They then filled the tubes with nitrogen, carbon dioxide and acetylene.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 19, 2026

Linda Losurdo, a PhD candidate in materials and plasma physics in the School of Physics, combined nitrogen, carbon dioxide and acetylene to simulate the energetic conditions found near stars and supernova remnants.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 19, 2026

When it comes in contact with water, it produces acetylene gas, which is highly flammable and has damaging properties on health.

From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2025

But an investigation by the California Dept. of Toxic Substances found containers of acetylene, a highly flammable gas, on site earlier this month.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 17, 2025

Heavy crews peeled away iron panels with acetylene torches and sent them wafting off the sides like palm leaves, crashing to the beach sands below, where more crews dragged the scavenge above high tide.

From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi