dieldrin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical / Scientific / Historical
Quick answer
What does “dieldrin” mean?
A highly toxic, crystalline chlorinated hydrocarbon, formerly used as an insecticide.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A highly toxic, crystalline chlorinated hydrocarbon, formerly used as an insecticide.
A persistent organic pollutant, now banned in most countries, belonging to the group of organochlorine insecticides derived from aldrin.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are identical. The regulatory history may differ slightly.
Connotations
Connotes historical agricultural/chemical use, environmental damage, toxicity, and bans. Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general discourse. Appears almost exclusively in environmental science, toxicology, and historical texts. Frequency is equally negligible in both BrE and AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “dieldrin” in a Sentence
[NP] contains/contained dieldrinDieldrin was detected in [NP]The ban on dieldrinVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dieldrin” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The soil was dieldrined in the 1960s. (invented, non-standard)
American English
- The field had been dieldrined. (invented, non-standard)
adverb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- The dieldrin-laden sediment was removed. (compound adjective)
American English
- Dieldrin-contaminated groundwater requires treatment. (compound adjective)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used historically in agrochemical business contexts; now in contexts of environmental liability and remediation.
Academic
Used in environmental science, chemistry, toxicology, and public health research papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Standard term in analytical chemistry reports, environmental site assessments, and regulatory documents.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dieldrin”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dieldrin”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dieldrin”
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a dieldrin'). It is uncountable.
- Mispronouncing it with stress on the second syllable.
- Confusing it with similar-sounding words like 'delirium'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is banned in most countries due to its high toxicity, persistence in the environment, and bioaccumulation in the food chain.
Aldrin is a closely related insecticide that rapidly converts to dieldrin in the environment and in living organisms. Dieldrin is the more persistent and stable form.
It is highly toxic to humans and wildlife, causing neurological and liver damage. It does not break down easily and accumulates in the fat tissues of animals, moving up the food chain.
You would only encounter it in highly specialized contexts like environmental science reports, historical studies of agriculture, or legal documents concerning chemical contamination and clean-up.
A highly toxic, crystalline chlorinated hydrocarbon, formerly used as an insecticide.
Dieldrin is usually technical / scientific / historical in register.
Dieldrin: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdiːldrɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdildrɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'DIE' + 'ldrin' → a chemical that was meant to make pests 'die', but it's so persistent it's now banned.
Conceptual Metaphor
None applicable; it is a concrete substance name.
Practice
Quiz
What is dieldrin?