polythene

pol·y·thene   (pŏl'ə-thēn')    n.   Chiefly British Variant of polyethylene. [poly- + (e)th(yl)ene.]

Main Entry: poly·eth·yl·ene
Pronunciation: "päl-E-'eth-&-"lEn
Function: noun
: a polymer of ethylene; especially : any of various lightweight thermoplastics (CH₂CH₂)_x that are resistant to chemicals and moisture and are used especially in packaging, insulation,surgical implants, prostheses, and tubing

polyethylene   (pŏl'ē-ěth'ə-lēn')  Pronunciation Key  Any of various artificial resins consisting of many ethyl groups (CH2CH2) joined end to end or in branched chains. Polyethylenes are easily molded and are resistant to other chemicals. They can be repeatedly softened and hardened by heating and cooling, and are used for many purposes, such as making containers, tubes, and packaging.