noun
Uncommon
chlorine
KLAW-reen
Chlorine (noun) means a greenish, toxic gas element, widely used to disinfect water and as a bleaching agent. Example: “The pool had a strong smell of chlorine after being cleaned.”
noun
1
A greenish, toxic gas element, widely used to disinfect water and as a bleaching agent.
"The pool had a strong smell of chlorine after being cleaned."
"Chlorine is added to tap water in small amounts to kill bacteria."
How to use chlorine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe chemical element used to disinfect swimming pools and drinking water.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
chlorine smell
chlorine gas
chlorine tablets
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Word forms
- Plural
- chlorines
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The pool had a strong smell of _____ after being cleaned.
Etymology
Coined in 1810 by chemist Humphry Davy from Greek khlōros ("pale green") plus the chemical ending -ine.
Class of 1810
chlorine joined the language around 1810.
See the full Class of 1810 →
Synonyms
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Cl
atomic number 17
Related words
Rhymes for chlorine
See all rhymes for chlorine →Frequently asked questions
What does “chlorine” mean?
The word “chlorine” means a greenish, toxic gas element, widely used to disinfect water and as a bleaching agent. In plain terms, the chemical element used to disinfect swimming pools and drinking water.
How do you pronounce “chlorine”?
“Chlorine” is pronounced KLAW-reen (/ˈklɔɹin/ in IPA).
How do you use “chlorine” in a sentence?
Here is “chlorine” used in a sentence: “The pool had a strong smell of chlorine after being cleaned.”
What part of speech is “chlorine”?
“Chlorine” is a noun.
Where does the word “chlorine” come from?
The word “chlorine” dates back to around 1810 and comes from Greek. Coined in 1810 by chemist Humphry Davy from Greek khlōros ("pale green") plus the chemical ending -ine.
Is “chlorine” a common word?
“Chlorine” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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