acetylene Chem.
(ˈæsɪtɪˌliːn, now usu. əˈsɛtɪliːn)
[f. acetyl + Gr. -ηνη female descendant, weaker derivative: see -ene.]
a. A gaseous hydrocarbon C2H2, = HC ≡ CH, also called ethine, interesting as being producible by the direct combination of carbon and hydrogen at a high temperature, and of forming by further syntheses more complex carbon compounds, thus rendering possible the artificial preparation of organic substances from their simple elements.
| 1864 H. Spencer Biology I. 8 With the exception of acetylene, the various hydro-carbons are not producible by directly combining their elements. 1869 Roscoe Elem. Chem. 95 Acetylene is a colourless gas, which burns with a bright luminous flame, and possesses a disagreeable and very peculiar odour; it is produced in all cases of incomplete combustion, and its smell may be noticed when a candle burns with a smoky flame. 1873 Watts Fownes' Chem. I. 559 Ethine or Acetylene is one of the constituents of coal gas. 1877 Ibid. II. 1 Recently it has been shown that ethine or acetylene, C2H2, can be produced by the direct combination of carbon and hydrogen; that this compound can be made to take up two additional atoms of hydrogen to form [olefiant gas, or] ethene C2H4; and that this..can be converted into alcohol, C2H6O, a body formerly supposed to be producible only by the fermentation of sugar. |
b. attrib. in acetylene gas; hence acetylene (gas) lamp.
| 1895 Nation 19 Dec. 447/2 Acetylene gas. 1897 U.S. Patent in W. E. Gibbs Lighting by Acetylene (1898) 139 Acetylene gas lamp. 1900 V. B. Lewes Acetylene 466 Acetylene lamps for signalling. |
c. ellipt.
| 1915 W. S. Maugham Of Human Bondage xlii. 198 The sea of faces, half seen in the glare of acetylene. |