— acetylenic /euh set'l en"ik/ , adj.
/euh set"l een', -in/ , n. Chem.
a colorless gas, C 2 H 2 , having an etherlike odor, produced usually by the action of water on calcium carbide or by pyrolysis of natural gas: used esp. in metal cutting and welding, as an illuminant, and in organic synthesis. Also called ethine, ethyne .
[ 1860-65; ACETYL + -ENE ]