denatured alcohol

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. alcohol, especially ethyl alcohol, that has been denatured: used chiefly as a solvent and in chemical synthesis.

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denatured alcohol British  

noun

1. chem ethanol rendered unfit for human consumption by the addition of a noxious substance, as in methylated spirits

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denatured alcohol Scientific  

/ dē-nā′chərd /

1. Ethyl alcohol to which a poisonous substance, such as acetone or methanol, has been added to make it unfit for consumption.

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Compare meaning

How does denatured-alcohol compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• denatured alcohol vs. acetone
• denatured alcohol vs. ethanol

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

denatured alcohol

Now that most of the paint is gone, spray the chair with denatured alcohol and scrub with more steel wool to clean off any residue.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 3, 2024

If the finish isn’t shellac, she switches to a solution that’s half denatured alcohol and half lacquer thinner, which will strip off gummy lacquer.

From Washington Post ● May 9, 2022

Pour a small amount of denatured alcohol onto the finish, wait a few minutes and see whether the finish is sticky; if it is, the finish is shellac.

From Washington Post ● May 9, 2022

The denatured alcohol, which simply carries the product, is also flammable, Francl said.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 23, 2019

Among the city’s manufactures are cement, denatured alcohol, ether, varnish, clothing and canned goods.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 3 "Electrostatics" to "Engis" by Various