trichloroethylene

[ trahy-klawr-oh-eth-uh-leen, -klohr- ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a colorless, poisonous liquid, C 2 HCl 3 , used chiefly as a degreasing agent for metals and as a solvent, especially in dry cleaning, for fats, oils, and waxes. : TCE

trichloroethylene

/ traɪˌklɔːrəʊˈɛθɪˌliːn /

noun

1. a volatile nonflammable mobile colourless liquid with an odour resembling that of chloroform. It is a good solvent for certain organic materials and is also an inhalation anaesthetic. Formula CHCl:CCl 2

trichloroethylene

/ trī-klôr′ō-ĕth′ə-lēn′ /

1. A heavy, colorless, toxic liquid. It is used to degrease metals, to extract oil from nuts and fruit, as a refrigerant, in dry cleaning, and as a fumigant. Chemical formula: C 2 HCl 3 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of trichloroethylene¹

First recorded in 1915–20; tri- + chloro- ² + ethylene