diethylene glycol

American

[dahy-eth-uh-leen glahy-kawl, -kol] / daɪˈɛθ əˌlin ˈglaɪ kɔl, -kɒl /

noun

Chemistry.

a syrupy colorless liquid, C 4 H 10 O 3 , used as a solvent for nitrocellulose and as a fabric softener.

diethylene glycol British

/ daɪˈɛθɪˌliːn ˈɡlaɪkɒl /

noun

a colourless soluble, poisonous liquid used as a solvent. Formula: (C 2 H 4 OH) 2 O

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of diethylene glycol

First recorded in 1925–30; di- ¹ + ethylene

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

diethylene glycol

In 2023, Indian syrups tainted with diethylene glycol were linked to the deaths of 70 children in The Gambia and 18 in Uzbekistan.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2025

Uzbekistan said in December that the children died after consuming Marion's cough syrups, Ambronol and DOK-1 Max, which were contaminated with unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol or ethylene glycol.

From Reuters ● Mar. 9, 2023

The WHO said the syrups were contaminated with diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which it called “ toxic chemicals used as industrial solvents and antifreeze agents that can be fatal even taken in small amounts.”

From Reuters ● Jan. 24, 2023

It said tests on samples of the syrup showed that they contained unacceptable amounts of toxic substances diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol.

From BBC ● Dec. 29, 2022

The Indian-made syrups exported to Gambia were also found to have high amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol.

From New York Times ● Nov. 3, 2022

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023