tetrachloroethylene

[ te-truh-klawr-oh-eth-uh-leen, -klohr- ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a colorless, nonflammable, nonexplosive liquid, C 2 Cl 4 , used as a solvent, especially in dry cleaning.

tetrachloroethylene

/ tĕt′rə-klôr′ō-ĕth′ə-lēn′ /

1. A colorless, nonflammable organic liquid used in dry-cleaning solutions, as an industrial solvent, and as an agent for expelling or destroying parasitic intestinal worms. Also called perchloroethylene. Chemical formula: C 2 Cl 4 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of tetrachloroethylene¹

1910–15; tetra- + chloro- ²( def ) + ethylene ( def )