polyethylene etymology

Etymology

The word "polyethylene" is derived from the Greek words:

  • poly-: meaning "many" or "much"
  • ethyl: referring to the ethyl group (-CH2-CH3) that forms the repeating unit in the polymer
  • -ene: indicating a hydrocarbon

Meaning

Polyethylene is a synthetic polymer composed of long chains of repeating ethylene units (-CH2-CH2-). It is a thermoplastic material, meaning that it can be softened by heat and reshaped.

Origin

Polyethylene was first synthesized by the German chemist Hans von Pechmann in 1898. However, it was not until 1933 that British chemists Reginald Gibson and Eric Fawcett discovered a process for producing polyethylene at high pressures. This process paved the way for the commercial production of polyethylene, which began in the 1940s.

polyethylene relate terms

  • ethylene

    Etymology Ancient Greek αἰθήρ aither meaning clear upper air bright sky Mo

  • ethyl

    Etymology The word ethyl comes from the Greek word aithalē which means burning su

  • methylene

    Etymology of Methylene The term methylene is derived from the Greek word methylos

  • poly

    Etymology The word poly comes from the Greek word polys which means many Meaning

  • multi

    Etymology The word multi originates from the Latin multus meaning many Meaning

  • polymer

    Etymology The word polymer is derived from the Greek words poly meaning many and

  • accomplish

    Etymology From Middle English acomplisshen acomplysshen from Anglo Norman acomplir f

  • complete

    Etymology The word etymology comes from the Greek words étymos meaning true and

  • compliment

    Etymology The word compliment is derived from the Latin word complere which means t

  • comply

    Etymology Old French complir Latin implere to fill Proto Indo European ple

  • depletion

    Etymology Derived from the Latin word deplere meaning to empty completely or to d

  • expletive

    Etymology The word expletive comes from the Latin expletivus meaning filling up I

  • fele

    Etymology Fele is a word with multiple etymological origins depending on its language

  • fill

    Etymology Old English fyllan Proto Germanic fulljan Proto Indo European pleh₂

  • folk

    Meaning of Folk Etymology Folk etymology also known as popular etymology or dubious e

  • full

    Etymology Sanskrit pratipaksha prati against paksha side Meaning Opponen

  • implement

    Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin history and development of words It see

  • manipulation

    Etymology The word manipulation originates from the Latin word manipulus which means

  • nonplus

    Etymology The word nonplus comes from the Latin non not and plus more literal

  • plebe

    Meaning Plebe etymology is the incorrect or folk etymology of a word or phrase which is

  • plebeian

    Etymology Latin plebs common people eius of or belonging to Meaning Ple

  • plebiscite

    Etymology From the Latin plebiscitum meaning a decision made by the plebs Plebs

  • pleiotropy

    Etymology Pleiotropy is derived from Greek pleion πλεῖον means more t

  • Pleistocene

    Etymology The term Pleistocene is derived from two Greek words pleistos most or

  • plenary

    Etymology The word plenary comes from the Latin word plenus which means full or

  • plenitude

    Etymology Late Latin plenitūdō fullness abundance Latin plēnus full Proto

  • plenty

    Etymology and Origin The word plenty derives from the Old French word plenté which

  • plenum

    Etymology Latin plēnus meaning full Meaning A plenum is a space or enclosure t

  • plenipotentiary

    Etymology Latin plēnus full potēns powerful Meaning Having full autho

  • pleo

    Etymology Origin Ancient Greek Meaning Definition Full or numerous Origin and

  • pleonasm

    Etymology From Greek pleonasmos from pleon more redundant asmos a forming format

  • plethora

    Etymology The word plethora comes from the Greek term plethōrē which means fullne

  • Pliocene

    Etymology Greek pleion more kainos new Meaning More recent Origin Th

  • pluperfect

    Etymology From Latin pluperfectus from plus more and perfectus completed finished

  • plural

    Etymology Plural is derived from the Latin word pluralis which means more than one

  • pluri

    Etymology The word pluri is derived from the Latin word plures meaning more or se

  • plus

    Etymology From Old French plus from Latin plus more Latin plus is ultimately d

  • Pollux

    Etymology The name Pollux comes from the Greek word Πολυδεύκης Polydeukes

  • poly

    Etymology The word poly comes from the Greek word polys which means many Meaning

  • polyamorous

    Etymology The word polyamorous is derived from the Greek words poly πολύ meani

  • polyandrous

    Etymology poly Greek many andry Greek husband Meaning Polyandrous refer

  • polyclinic

    Etymology The word polyclinic originates from two Greek roots poly πολύ mea

  • polydipsia

    Etymology Greek poly many excessive dipsia thirst Meaning Exces

  • Polydorus

    Etymology Greek name Πολύδωρος Polydoros meaning having many gifts Mean

  • polyethylene

    Etymology The word polyethylene is derived from the Greek words poly meaning many

  • polyglot

    Etymology Greek poly many glossa language Meaning A person who speaks a

  • polygon

    Etymology The word polygon is derived from the Greek words poly πολύ meaning

  • polygraph

    Etymology The word polygraph is derived from the Greek words polys πολύς

  • polygyny

    Etymology Polygyny is derived from the Greek words poly meaning many gynē me

  • polyhedron

    Etymology Ancient Greek polus many hedron base seat Meaning A polyhedron

  • polyhistor

    Etymology Polyhistor is derived from the Greek words poly meaning many and histo

  • polymath

    Etymology Polymath is derived from the Greek words polys πολύς meaning many

  • polymer

    Etymology The word polymer is derived from the Greek words poly meaning many and

  • polymorphous

    Etymology Polymorphous Derived from Greek poly many and morph form Etymology

  • Polynesia

    Etymology and Meaning Poly Ancient Greek many nesia Ancient Greek island

  • polyp

    Etymology The word polyp is derived from the Greek word polupous which means many

  • Polyphemus

    Etymology Poly Greek many phemos pheme phēnai Greek speak tell Meani

  • polyphony

    Etymology The term polyphony comes from the Greek words poly πολύς meaning

  • polysemy

    Etymology Polysemy comes from the Greek words poly meaning many and sema meanin

  • polysyllabic

    Etymology Poly Greek meaning many Syllable Greek meaning a unit of pronunciation

  • polytheism

    Etymology Derived from the Greek words poly meaning many and theos meaning go

  • replenish

    Etymology Latin replenire to fill up again re prefix meaning back plenus

  • replete

    Etymology The word replete comes from the Latin word repletus which is the past part

  • supply

    Etymology Middle English supplien from Old French suplir supllier from Latin supp

  • surplus

    Etymology The word surplus derives from the Old French word surplus which itself co

  • volkslied

    Etymology The term Volkslied is a German compound word that consists of Volk Ge

  • propaganda

    Etymology and Meaning The word propaganda comes from the Latin phrase propaganda fide

  • metaphor

    Etymology The word metaphor comes from the Greek word μεταφορά metaphorá whi

  • resolve

    Etymology Latin resolvere meaning to loosen untie dissolve Meaning To separa

  • protest

    Etymology The word protest comes from the Late Latin word protestari meaning to bea

  • resilience

    Etymology Latin resilient springing back French résilient elastic springy

  • civil

    Meaning and Origin of Civil Etymology Civil etymology refers to a process where words cha

  • charge

    Etymology The word charge comes from the Old French word carge which in turn derives

  • conundrum

    Etymology The word conundrum is derived from the Latin phrase conundrāre meaning t

  • conspicuous

    Etymology Conspicuous originates from the Latin word conspicuus which means visible

  • sequester

    Etymology Late Latin sequestrare to remove set apart from Latin se apart quaere