cetyl alcohol

[ seet-l ]

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

Origin of cetyl alcohol

1
1870–75; cet- + -yl (so called because some of its compounds are found in spermaceti)
  • Also ce·tyl·ic al·cohol [si-til-ik]. /sɪˈtɪl ɪk/.

Words Nearby cetyl alcohol

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Scientific definitions for cetyl alcohol

cetyl alcohol

[ sētl ]


  1. 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.