cetyl alcohol

American

[seet-l] / ˈsit l /

Also cetylic alcohol

noun

a white, crystalline, water-insoluble solid, C 16 H 34 O, used chiefly as an emollient in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

cetyl alcohol Scientific

/ sēt′l /

A waxy alcohol used in lubricants, detergents, cosmetics, and emulsifiers. Chemical formula: C ₁₆ H ₃₄ O.

Etymology

Origin of cetyl alcohol

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

Example Sentences

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See Examples For:

cetyl alcohol

Natural emulsifiers, such as xanthan gum and cetyl alcohol, are sometimes used to prevent organic shampoo from separating and enhance its soapy lather.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 11, 2024

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023