halon

American  

[hay-lahn] / ˈheɪˌlɑn /

noun

halons plural

1. Chemistry. any of a group of gaseous compounds formed from hydrocarbons whose hydrogen atoms are replaced by bromine and other halogens, once used extensively for extinguishing fires, a use now largely restricted due to their extreme potential for ozone depletion.

---

halon British  

/ ˈhælɒn /

noun

1. any of a class of chemical compounds derived from hydrocarbons by replacing one or more hydrogen atoms by bromine atoms and other hydrogen atoms by other halogen atoms (chlorine, fluorine, or iodine). Halons are stable compounds that are used in fire extinguishers, although they may contribute to depletion of the ozone layer

---

halon Scientific  

/ hā′lŏn /

1. Any of several compounds consisting of one or two carbon atoms combined with bromine and one or more other halogens. Halons are gases and are used as fire-extinguishing agents. They are between three and ten times more destructive to the ozone layer than CFCs are.

---

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• halons
  plural

Example Sentences

"When you have an open system where the casing is not intact, halon can't do its job."

From US News • Sep. 11, 2015

Without the presence of halon, the explosion was even more powerful, with pressure rising to about 80 psi.

From Washington Times • May 1, 2015

An FAA test in February resulted in a powerful explosion despite being conducted in a pressurized chamber with an atmosphere of 5 percent halon.

From Washington Times • May 1, 2015

We put No. 3 to bed with the snap and click of cutoff levers, generator switches and a goodnight spray of the halon bottle.

From Salon • Oct. 5, 2010

Bravely, bold hearts! the rear-guard is nigh.—Hah! halon, halon!

From Calavar or The Knight of The Conquest, A Romance of Mexico by Bird, Robert Montgomery