dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene

English

Structure of DDE.

Etymology

From dichloro +‎ diphenyl +‎ dichloro +‎ ethylene

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌdaɪˌklɔːroʊˌdaɪˌfɛnəlˌdaɪˌklɔːroʊˈɛθɪliːn/

Noun

dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (uncountable, abbreviation DDE)

1. (organic chemistry) A long-lasting chemical that forms when the pesticide DDT breaks down. It doesn’t easily degrade, can build up in living organisms, and is known for disrupting hormones and persisting in the environment for a long time.

Related terms

• dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)
• dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD)