carbon tetrachloriden. A poisonous, nonflammable, colorless liquid, CCl4, used in fire extinguishers and as a dry-cleaning fluid.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.carbon tetrachloride n (Elements & Compounds) a colourless volatile nonflammable sparingly soluble liquid made from chlorine and carbon disulphide; tetrachloromethane. It is used as a solvent, cleaning fluid, and insecticide. Formula: CCl4 Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014car?bon tetrachlo?ride n. a colorless, nonflammable, vaporous, toxic liquid, CCl4, used mainly as a refrigerant, fire extinguisher, cleaning fluid, solvent, and insecticide. [1900?05] Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.