Word.ws English Dictionary

ethion

ethion noun: an organophosphate insecticide, [(dethoxyphosphinothioylthio)methylthio]-diethoxy-thioxophosphorane, that is known to neutralise the neural enzyme acetylcholinesterase.

ethion: an organophosphate insecticide,...
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Noun

ethion (uncountable)

  1. An organophosphate insecticide, [(dethoxyphosphinothioylthio)methylthio]-diethoxy-thioxophosphorane, that is known to neutralise the neural enzyme acetylcholinesterase.
    • The substantial polarity of ethion indicated by its molar refraction (100.1) probably indicates a strong adsorption on surfaces. Ethion may therefore persist as a surface residue allowing dermal exposure if reentry occurs before photochemical destruction or hydrolysis.1980, Committee on Prototype Explicit Analyses for Pesticides, Commission on Natural Resources, Environmental Studies Board, Regulating Pesticides, page 156
    • Ethion is a colorless to amber colored liquid. It is soluble in most organic solvents including kerosine, but sparingly soluble in water. Ethion is highly toxic to animals.1990, T. S. S. Dikshith, Toxicological Study of Pesticides in Animals, page 20

Origin of ethion

From e(thoxy) + -thion.

Questions about ethion

What does ethion mean?
Ethion means an organophosphate insecticide, [(dethoxyphosphinothioylthio)methylthio]-diethoxy-thioxophosphorane, that is known to neutralise the neural enzyme acetylcholinesterase.
What part of speech is ethion?
Ethion is a noun.

Words near ethion in the dictionary

  1. ethiodides
  2. ethiodized oil
  3. ethiofencarb
  4. ethiological
  5. ethiology
  6. ethion
  7. ethionamide
  8. ethionamides
  9. ethionic
  10. ethionic acid
  11. ethionine

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: ethion (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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