ethylene oxide

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless, odorless, gaseous, toxic, ring compound, C 2 H 4 O, usually obtained by the oxidation of ethylene: used chiefly in the synthesis of ethylene glycol.

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Etymology

Origin of ethylene oxide

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Companies that use or manufacture ethylene oxide and their representatives complained to the EPA and questioned the science that cost them so dearly.

From Salon • May 5, 2026

An estimated 50% of sterile medical devices in the U.S. are treated with ethylene oxide, or EtO, particularly those that can’t be cleaned using steam or radiation.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

Higher autism severity scores and weaker daily living skills were also linked with ethylene oxide.

From Salon • Aug. 21, 2025

By comparison, one of the largest ethylene oxide emitters in the country, the Union Carbide plant in Louisiana, emitted 6,894 lbs. in 2024.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 16, 2025

The marked superiority stems from the fact that 1,2-butylene oxide is about 3 times safer than propylene oxide when long exposure to it is required and about 3.5 times safer than ethylene oxide.

From U.S. Patent 4,293,314: Gelled Fuel-Air Explosive October 6, 1981. by Stull, Bertram O.