ˈzēglə(r)- noun
Usage: usually capitalized Z
Etymology: after Karl Ziegler b 1898 German chemistry institute director
: a catalyst (as triethyl-aluminum or a complex of a trialkyl-aluminum with titanium tetrachloride) that promotes an ionic type of polymerization of ethylene, propylene, or related olefins at atmospheric pressure with the resultant formation of a relatively high-melting polyethylene, a stereoregular polypropylene, or similar product