PBB

American

Chemistry.

any of the highly toxic and possibly carcinogenic aromatic compounds consisting of two benzene rings in which bromine takes the place of two or more hydrogen atoms: used as a fire retardant and additive for plastics.

Etymology

Origin of PBB

p(oly)b(rominated) b(iphenyl)

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.

Mr. Milliken faced a disaster in 1973 when a chemical company accidentally shipped fire retardant containing highly toxic polybrominated biphenyl, or PBB, instead of cattle feed to thousands of farmers.

From Washington Post • Oct. 19, 2019

Milliken faced a disaster in 1973 when a chemical company accidentally shipped fire retardant containing highly toxic polybrominated biphenyl, or PBB, instead of cattle feed to thousands of farmers.

From Washington Times • Oct. 18, 2019

By the mid-'60s, fish in the river contained high levels of such known or suspected carcinogens as PBB, PCB and DDT.

From Time Magazine Archive

Since the PBB contamination was discovered in Michigan in May 1974, Farm Bureau Services and Michigan Chemical Corp., which produced the PBBs, have settled 500 claims from farmers at a cost of $30 million.

From Time Magazine Archive

PBB: As you can see, sometimes the choice of / or me makes a difference in your meaning.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

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