Baekeland

[ beyk-land; Flemish bah-kuh-lahnt ]

noun
  1. Le·o Hen·drik [lee-oh hen-drik; Flemish ley-oh hen-drik], /ˈli oʊ ˈhɛn drɪk; Flemish ˈleɪ oʊ ˈhɛn drɪk/, 1863–1944, U.S. chemist, born in Belgium: developed Bakelite.

Words Nearby Baekeland

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use Baekeland in a sentence

  • Bakelite is a substitute for hard rubber or amber, invented by the eminent chemist Dr. Baekeland.

  • Baekeland was a Belgian chemist, born at Ghent in 1863 and professor at Bruges.

    Creative Chemistry | Edwin E. Slosson

Scientific definitions for Baekeland

Baekeland

[ bāklănd′ ]


  1. Belgian-born American chemist who in 1907 developed Bakelite, the first plastic to harden permanently after heating. Originally used as an insulator, his invention proved to be a versatile and inexpensive material for manufacturing products such as telephones, cameras, and furniture.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.