ethyl

American  

[eth-uhl] / ˈɛθ əl /

adjective

1. Chemistry. containing the ethyl group, as ethyl ether, C 4 H 10 O.

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noun

1. a type of antiknock fluid, containing tetraethyl lead and other ingredients for a more even combustion.

ethyl British  

/ ˈɛθɪl, ɪˈθɪlɪk, ˈiːθaɪl /

noun

1. (modifier) of, consisting of, or containing the monovalent group C 2 H 5-

   ethyl group or radical

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ethyl Scientific  

/ ĕth′əl /

1. The radical C ₂ H ₅, derived from ethane.

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Other Word Forms

• ethylic
  adjective
• nonethyl
  noun

Etymology

Origin of ethyl

From German Ethyl, coined by J. von Liebig in 1834; see ether, -yl

Compare meaning

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

• methyl vs. ethyl

Example Sentences

Ethyl acetate and methylene chloride are two common solvents used to extract caffeine from green coffee beans.

From Salon • Jul. 23, 2024

Ethyl alcohol and water in the distillate evaporate out of the barrel, and the humidity in that part of the rickhouse plays a big role.

From Scientific American • Sep. 27, 2023

As a kid, it felt clear that I was getting every cue in the world that I was supposed to side with Ethyl.

From Slate • Apr. 27, 2020

Ethyl mercaptan, the stuff added to natural gas to make gas leaks easier to detect, has an odor detection threshold of just 1 or 2 micrograms per cubic meter.

From New York Times • Feb. 17, 2020

According to Jamie Lincoln Kitman, writing in The Nation in 2000, Ethyl executives allegedly offered to endow a chair at Caltech "if Patterson was sent packing."

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson