(ˈ)trī+...- noun
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary tri- + ethylene
: a high-boiling soluble hygroscopic liquid ether glycol (−CH 2 OCH 2 CH 2 OH) 2 that resembles diethylene glycol, is made similarly, and is used chiefly as a solvent, as an air disinfectant, in the dehydration of gases, and in the form of esters as a plasticizer