noun
silene
noun
1
In chemistry, a molecule containing a silicon atom joined to another atom by a double bond, the silicon counterpart of an alkene.
"Researchers synthesized a stable silene to study silicon's double-bond chemistry."
2
Any plant of the genus Silene, a large group of flowering plants including campions and catchflies.
"Silene grows wild along the hedgerows, its pink flowers opening in early summer."
How to Use Silene
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA technical chemistry term for a silicon double-bond compound, and separately, the scientific name for a family of wildflowers.
Word Forms
silenes plural, silenes plural
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Researchers synthesized a stable _____ to study silicon's double-bond chemistry.
Etymology
The chemistry sense is a coined term modeled on "alkene," substituting silicon for carbon; the plant genus name Silene is unrelated, from botanical Latin.