cetyl alcohol

[ seet-l ]

/ ˈsit l /

noun

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

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Nearby words

cetshwayo, cetti's warbler, cetura, cetus, cetyl, cetyl alcohol, cetylic acid, ceuta, ceviche, cewa, ceylon

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.