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cetyl alcohol

[seet-l]

noun

a white, crystalline, water-insoluble solid, C16H34O, used chiefly as an emollient in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

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Read more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.

Read more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.

Also ce·tyl·ic al·cohol

[si-til-ik] /sɪˈtɪl ɪk/.

Origin of cetyl alcohol

1870–75; cet- + -yl (so called because some of its compounds are found in spermaceti)

Also called ethal.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Science definitions for cetyl alcohol

cetyl alcohol

[sēt′l]

A waxy alcohol used in lubricants, detergents, cosmetics, and emulsifiers. Chemical formula: C16H34O.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.