Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
A polymer consisting of many ethylene monomers bonded together; used for kitchenware, containers etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: chemistry, natural-sciences, organic-chemistry, physical-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: PE, polyethene[IUPAC]] name>, polythene
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: polyolefin, polymer, plastic, substance, compound, material
noun
a lightweight thermoplastic; used especially in packaging and insulation
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: polythene
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: synthetic resin
History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *pleh1- Proto-Indo-European *polh1ús Ancient Greek πολῠ́ς (polŭ́s)lbor. English poly- Proto-Indo-European *h2eydh-der. Proto-Hellenic *áithō Ancient Greek αἴθω (aíthō) ▲ Ancient Greek ᾱ̓ήρ (āḗr)influ.? Ancient Greek αἰθήρ (aithḗr)der. Latin aethērbor. German Äther German Ether Proto-Indo-European *swel-der.? Ancient Greek ῡ̔́λη (hū́lē)der. German -yl German Ethylbor. English ethyl English eth- English -ylene English ethylene English polyethylene From poly- + ethylene.
Across languages
41 source translations are retained for this English entry.
