trichloroethylene

noun

tri·​chlo·​ro·​eth·​y·​lene ˌtrī-ˌklȯr-ō-ˈe-thə-ˌlēn How to pronounce trichloroethylene (audio)
: a nonflammable toxic liquid C2HCl3 used especially as an industrial solvent

Examples of trichloroethylene in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web As many as 1 million people are estimated to have lived or worked at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune between August 1953 and December 1987, when the drinking water was heavily polluted with cancer-causing industrial solvents like trichloroethylene, or TCE, and tetrachloroethylene, or PCE. Brenda Goodman, CNN, 8 Aug. 2024 There were extremely high levels of trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, vinyl chloride and benzene — colorless chemicals that can cause several diseases, including cardiac defects and some cancers, the agency said. Melissa Chan, NBC News, 4 Aug. 2024 The silos leaked a chemical, trichloroethylene, or TCE, after it was used to clean the site during its three years of operation, and groundwater and soil vapors holding the toxic contaminant have spread, nearing Sun City homes. Elise Fisher, Sacramento Bee, 18 July 2024 One of the primary contaminants is trichloroethylene, or TCE, formerly used as a general-purpose solvent and degreaser. Sarah Lapidus, USA TODAY, 12 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for trichloroethylene 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trichloroethylene.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1919, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of trichloroethylene was circa 1919

Dictionary Entries Near trichloroethylene

Cite this Entry

“Trichloroethylene.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trichloroethylene. Accessed 11 Sep. 2024.

Medical Definition

trichloroethylene

noun
tri·​chlo·​ro·​eth·​y·​lene
variants also trichlorethylene
: a nonflammable liquid C2HCl3 used as a solvent and in medicine as an anesthetic and analgesic
abbreviation TCE

More from Merriam-Webster on trichloroethylene

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