| olefin [`ō·lǝ·fǝn] ORGANIC CHEMISTRY CnH2n A family of unsaturated, chemically active hydrocarbons with one carbon-carbon double bond; includes ethylene and propylene. TEXTILES A manufactured fiber in which the fiber-forming substance is any long-chain synthetic polymer composed of at least 85% by weight of ethylene, propylene, or other olefin units except amorphous (noncrystalline) polyolefins qualifying as rubber. |