Pronunciation: ' e-th ə - ˌ fän
Function: noun
Etymology: eth yl + phos phon ic acid (a dibasic organic acid)
Date: 1971
: a synthetic plant growth regulator C 2 H 6 ClO 3 P that induces flowering and abscission by promoting the release of ethylene and has been used to cause early ripening (as of apples on the tree)