tetraethyllead

American  

[te-truh-eth-uhl-led] / ˌtɛ trəˌɛθ əlˈlɛd /

Or tetraethyl lead

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless, oily, water-insoluble, poisonous liquid, (C 2 H5 ) 4 Pb, used as an antiknock agent in gasoline.

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Etymology

Origin of tetraethyllead

First recorded in 1920–25; tetraethyl + lead ²

Example Sentences

Petroleum containing tetraethyllead, a form of lead, was first sold almost 100 years ago to increase engine performance.

From Seattle Times

In addition to its anti-knock qualities, tetraethyllead performs several functions in piston-powered airplane engines.

From Salon

The lead added to avgas is a clear liquid known technically as tetraethyllead.

From Salon

In 2012 tetraethyllead generated one-tenth of Innospec’s $776 million in revenue, down from 90 percent in 2000.

From Salon

Today, sales of tetraethyllead to avgas producers account for just 3 percent of Innospec’s business.

From Salon