ketene

K5E1T1E1N1E1

noun

any of a class of unsaturated ketones, having a general formula R₁R₂C=C=O, that react as if they were inner acid anhydrides

OriginEnglish keto- ← German Keton →
Scrabble 10
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Meanings

nounketene (plural ketenes)

plural ketenes

  1. chemistryany of a class of unsaturated ketones, having a general formula R₁R₂C=C=O, that react as if they were inner acid anhydrides
  2. chemistrythe parent compound of this class, CH₂=C=O, an unstable, reactive colourless gas

Origin

  1. GermanKeton
  2. Englishketone
  3. Englishketo-
  4. Englishketene

From keto- + -ene.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Spanish queteno
  • quetenoof a class of unsaturated ketones
Cite this entry
APA

ketene. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ketene

MLA

“ketene.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ketene. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ketene,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ketene.

Source: ketene on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.