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

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 it’s shellac, Fiedler Kawaguchi puts on nitrile gloves and goes over the finish again, this time with denatured alcohol on a cloth or soft scrub pad.

From Washington Post • May 9, 2022

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

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

From Seattle Times • Sep. 23, 2019

Wheat, boots and shoes, mining machinery, cement, lime, lumber, beer, and denatured alcohol are among the varied exports; the principal imports are ore, sugar, cigars, oranges, drawn work and Mexican curios.

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