glycol

American  

[glahy-kawl, -kol] / ˈglaɪ kɔl, -kɒl /

noun

1. Also called ethylene alcohol.  Also called ethylene glycol.  a colorless, sweet liquid, C 2 H 6 O 2 , used chiefly as an automobile antifreeze and as a solvent.

2. Also called diol.  any of a group of alcohols containing two hydroxyl groups.

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glycol British  

/ ˈɡlaɪkɒl, ɡlaɪˈkɒlɪk /

noun

1. another name (not in technical usage) for ethanediol diol

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glycol Scientific  

/ glī′kôl′,-kōl′ /

1. See ethylene glycol

2. Any of various alcohols containing two hydroxyl groups (OH).

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Other Word Forms

• glycolic adjective

Etymology

Origin of glycol

First recorded in 1855–60; glyc(erin) + (alcoh)ol

Example Sentences

Monoethylene glycol demand may improve from 2027, while methanol demand is forecast to exceed new capacity in 2026 and most of 2027-2030, lifting operating rates steadily from 66% to 70%.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

Unaware that he was severely allergic to glycol, a chemical component for the stage smoke used in concerts, Bunbury was forced to cancel his 35th anniversary tour in 2022.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2025

As much as 3,000 gallons of glycol coolant are pumped into custom-made aluminum trays.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 21, 2023

The leaching performance of citric acid and ethylene glycol has been explored before, but that approach used more acid and a lower temperature, which proved less effective, Bai said.

From Science Daily • Nov. 29, 2023

The chemical name of this product is "polymerized oxybenzyl methylene glycol anhydride," but nobody calls it that, not even chemists.

From Creative Chemistry Descriptive of Recent Achievements in the Chemical Industries by Slosson, Edwin E.