polythene
|pol-y-thene|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈpɑːliˌθiːn/
🇬🇧
/ˈpɒlɪˌθiːn/
plastic material
Etymology
Etymology Information
'polythene' originates from 'poly-' meaning 'many' and 'ethylene', a hydrocarbon.
Historical Evolution
'polythene' was derived from the chemical compound 'polyethylene', which was first synthesized in the 1930s.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to the chemical compound, and it has retained this meaning in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a type of plastic made from ethylene, used especially for making bags, containers, and other products.
The polythene bags are not biodegradable.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45