ethylene oxide: Meaning and Definition of

eth'ylene ox'ide

Pronunciation: [key]
— Chem. Chem.
  1. a colorless, odorless, gaseous, toxic, ring compound, CHO, usually obtained by the oxidation of ethylene: used chiefly in the synthesis of ethylene glycol.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.