any of a series of unsaturated open-chain hydrocarbons containing a triple bond and having the general formula CH: these compounds are sometimes said to be in the acetylene series
Origin:
alky(l) + -(i)ne
See alkyne in American Heritage Dictionary 4
also al·kine
noun
Any of a series of open chain hydrocarbons with a carbon-carbon triple bond and the general formula CnH2n-2.