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polyethylene

[ pol-ee-eth-uh-leen ]
/ ˌpɒl iˈɛθ əˌlin /
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noun Chemistry.
a plastic polymer of ethylene used chiefly for containers, electrical insulation, and packaging.
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Also called, British, polythene.

Origin of polyethylene

First recorded in 1935–40; poly- + ethylene
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use polyethylene in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for polyethylene

polyethylene
/ (ˌpɒlɪˈɛθɪˌliːn) /

noun
another name for polythene
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

Scientific definitions for polyethylene

polyethylene
[ pŏl′ē-ĕthə-lēn′ ]

Any of various artificial resins consisting of many ethyl groups (CH2CH2) joined end to end or in branched chains. Polyethylenes are easily molded and are resistant to other chemicals. They can be repeatedly softened and hardened by heating and cooling, and are used for many purposes, such as making containers, tubes, and packaging.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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