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tetraethyl

American  
[te-truh-eth-uhl] / ˌtɛ trəˈɛθ əl /

adjective

Chemistry.
  1. containing four ethyl groups.


Etymology

Origin of tetraethyl

tetra- + ethyl

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In 1921, General Motors engineers discovered that tetraethyl lead could make internal combustion engines run more smoothly and reduce engine knock.

From Salon • Sep. 5, 2021

Similarly, several decades later, the introduction of tetraethyl lead into gasoline raised environmental concerns, but was tolerated as a necessary lubricant for the adoption of the internal combustion engine.

From New York Times • Jun. 18, 2018

As Americans took to the road during the postwar boom in car travel, the amount of tetraethyl lead in the nation’s air and soil rapidly increased.

From Time • Jun. 28, 2016

CREDIT: Thester11/Creative Commons Advertisement for leaded gasoline, 20th century In the 1920s, engineers at General Motors figured out that adding tetraethyl lead to gasoline boosted its octane rating and allowed them to develop better engines.

From Slate • Aug. 21, 2015

What he needed was a way to compare lead levels in the atmosphere now with the levels that existed before 1923, when tetraethyl lead was introduced.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson