# ethylene

/ˈɛθəˌɫin/ (US) · /ˈɛθɪlˌiːn/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ethylene
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

a natural gas that plants use to control their growth and ripening. It also makes fruits like apples and bananas get soft and sweet.

For teachers: a simple gaseous hydrocarbon that functions as a plant hormone, regulating various developmental processes including fruit ripening and leaf senescence.

## Examples

- Ethylene causes the fruit to ripen faster.
- Farmers often use ethylene to speed up the ripening of bananas before they are shipped to the market.
- The release of ethylene by ripening fruit can trigger a chain reaction in nearby produce, leading to a rapid and uniform softening of the entire harvest.

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