ethyl alcohol

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. alcohol.

---

ethyl alcohol British  

noun

1. another name for alcohol

---

ethyl alcohol Scientific  

1. See ethanol

---

ethyl alcohol Cultural  

1. The kind of alcohol made by fermentation of the sugar in grains; the fermentation is brought about by the enzymes in yeast.

---

Discover More

Alcoholic drinks and gasohol contain ethyl alcohol.

Etymology

Origin of ethyl alcohol

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

It is colourless and has a similar smell to ethyl alcohol - the chemical substance found in alcoholic drinks.

From BBC • Nov. 21, 2024

The goal was to initially scan only specimens preserved in ethyl alcohol, which represent the bulk of fish, reptile and amphibian collections.

From Science Daily • Mar. 6, 2024

Many hand sanitizers contain ethyl alcohol, which, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “readily evaporates at room temperature into an ignitable vapor and is considered a flammable liquid.”

From Seattle Times • Jan. 7, 2022

Teachers are no longer allowed to have bulk containers — like the jug of ethyl alcohol was used in the demonstration — in classrooms when there are open flames.

From Washington Post • May 19, 2016

Another fact of considerable technical importance is, that the various races of yeast show considerable differences in the amount and proportion of fermentation products other than ethyl alcohol and carbonic acid which they produce.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 3 "Fenton, Edward" to "Finistere" by Various