perchloroethylene

American  

[per-klawr-oh-eth-uh-leen, -klohr-] / pərˌklɔr oʊˈɛθ əˌlin, -ˌkloʊr- /

noun

Chemistry.

1. tetrachloroethylene.

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perchloroethylene British  

/ pəˌklɔːrəʊˈɛθiːn, pəˌklɔːrəʊˈɛθɪliːn /

noun

1. a colourless liquid used as a dry-cleaning solvent. Formula: CCl 2 :CCl 2

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perchloroethylene Scientific  

/ pər-klôr′ō-ĕth′ə-lēn′ /

1. See tetrachloroethylene

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Etymology

Origin of perchloroethylene

First recorded in 1870–75; perchloro- + ethylene

Example Sentences

Together, they focused on an attractive target, the commonly used degreasing and dry-cleaning agent perc, or perchloroethylene as chemists call it, which is non-harmful and produced in large quantities around the world.

From Science Daily • Jan. 10, 2024

The agency moved to ban asbestos last year and has also proposed banning methylene chloride, perchloroethylene and carbon tetrachloride.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 23, 2023

That includes the likely next up, perchloroethylene, a solvent used for cleaning and degreasing, and carbon tetrachloride, another solvent that is commonly used to produce other chemicals such as refrigerants.

From Washington Post • Apr. 20, 2023

In December, a state ban on the toxic cleaning agent perchloroethylene went into effect.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 31, 2021

To rid soil of chemicals like perchloroethylene, or perc, used in dry-cleaning, air is sucked out of the earth to extract the contaminant, he said.

From New York Times • Aug. 9, 2017