polytetrafluoroethylene

[ pol-ee-te-truh-floo r-oh-eth-uh-leen, -flawr-, -flohr- ]

/ ˌpɒl iˌtɛ trəˌflʊər oʊˈɛθ əˌlin, -ˌflɔr-, -ˌfloʊr- /

noun Chemistry.

any polymer, plastic, or resin having the formula (C2F4)n, prepared from tetrafluoroethylene, noted for its slippery, nonsticking properties, and used in the manufacture of gaskets, electrical insulation, tubing, candy molds, container linings, frying-pan coatings, etc.

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Commas mark divisions in sentences. Periods end declarative sentences. Apostrophes show possession. Easy, right? Well, punctuation can get pretty tricky—fast. Think you got what it takes to be a punctuation expert? Take our quiz to prove it!

Question 1 of 10

Which of the options below is the best punctuation for the sentence? It__s your turn to pick the movie __ but your sister gets to pick the board game we _ re going to play.

Its your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.

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It’s your turn to pick the movie, but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.

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Origin of polytetrafluoroethylene

First recorded in 1945–50; poly- + tetrafluoroethylene

Words nearby polytetrafluoroethylene

polysynthetic, polytechnic, polytendinitis, polytene, polytene chromosome, polytetrafluoroethylene, polytheism, polytheistic, polythelia, polythene, polythiazide

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for polytetrafluoroethylene

polytetrafluoroethylene

/ (ˌpɒlɪˌtɛtrəˌflʊərəʊˈɛθɪˌliːn) /

noun

a white thermoplastic material with a waxy texture, made by polymerizing tetrafluoroethylene. It is nonflammable, resists chemical action and radiation, and has a high electrical resistance and an extremely low coefficient of friction. It is used for making gaskets, hoses, insulators, bearings, and for coating metal surfaces in chemical plants and in nonstick cooking vesselsAbbreviation: PTFE Also called (trademark): Teflon

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 polytetrafluoroethylene

polytetrafluoroethylene

[ pŏl′ē-tĕt′rə-flur′ō-ĕth′ə-lēn′, -flôr′- ]

A synthetic polymer consisting of a chain of fluorinated ethane units (C2F4). It is a thermoplastic resin that is resistant to heat and chemicals and has an extremely low coefficient of friction (resistance to objects sliding over its surface). It is used as a coating on cookware, gaskets, seals, and hoses.