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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 notes

In plain EnglishThe chemical element used to disinfect swimming pools and drinking water.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
chlorine smell chlorine gas chlorine tablets

Word forms

chlorines plural

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Fill the gap

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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.

Origin: Greek · First attested 1810

Class of 1810 chlorine joined the language around 1810.
See the full Class of 1810 →
Cl atomic number 17

Related words

Cl

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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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial