glycerin

[glis-er-in]

noun Chemistry.

glycerol.

Also glyc·er·ine

[glis-er-in, -uh-reen, glis-uh-reen] /ˈglɪs ər ɪn, -əˌrin, ˌglɪs əˈrin/.

Origin of glycerin

1830–40; < French glycérine, equivalent to Greek glyker(ós) sweet + -ine -in²

glycerol

[glis-uh-rawl, -rol]

noun

a colorless, odorless, syrupy, sweet liquid, C3H8O3, usually obtained by the saponification of natural fats and oils: used for sweetening and preserving food, in the manufacture of cosmetics, perfumes, inks, and certain glues and cements, as a solvent and automobile antifreeze, and in medicine in suppositories and skin emollients.

Origin of glycerol

First recorded in 1880–85; glycer(in) + -ol¹

Also called glycerin, glycerine.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for glycerine

Historical Examples of glycerine

But be careful; most of the things are only temporarily mounted—just in glycerine.
The Bacillus of Beauty
Harriet Stark
It had not been hurt by the glycerine blast that had trapped Asher.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, June, 1930
Various
Care is, however, necessary, in moistening the wool with glycerine.
Fragments of science, V. 1-2
John Tyndall
Denatured alcohol, glycerine, water, a little color and perfume.
Junior Achievement
William Lee
If then it is a smooth solution, nearly as thin as glycerine, it is fit for use.
The Ladies Book of Useful Information
Anonymous

British Dictionary definitions for glycerine

glycerine

glycerin (ˈɡlɪsərɪn)

noun

another name (not in technical usage) for glycerol

Word Origin for glycerine

C19: from French glycérine, from Greek glukeros sweet + -ine -in; related to Greek glukus sweet

glycerol

noun

a colourless or pale yellow odourless sweet-tasting syrupy liquid; 1,2,3-propanetriol: a by-product of soap manufacture, used as a solvent, antifreeze, plasticizer, and sweetener (E422). Formula: C 3 H 8 O 3Also called (not in technical usage): glycerine, glycerin

Word Origin for glycerol

C19: from glycer (ine) + -ol 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for glycerine

see glycerin.

glycerol

1884, from glycerine + -ol, suffix denoting alcohols.

glycerin

also glycerine, thick, colorless syrup, 1838, from French glycérine, coined by French chemist Michel-Eugène Chevreul (1786-1889), from Greek glykeros "sweet" (see glucose) + chemical ending -ine (2). So called for its sweet taste. Still in popular use, but in chemistry the substance now is known as glycerol.

Medicine definitions for glycerine

glycerin

n.

Glycerol or a preparation of glycerol.

glycerol

[glĭs′ə-rôl′, -rōl′]

n.

A sweet syrupy fluid obtained by the saponification of fats and fixed oils, used as a solvent, a skin emollient, and as a vehicle and sweetening agent; it is also used by injection or in suppository form for constipation and orally to reduce ocular tension.

Science definitions for glycerine

glycerin

See glycerol.

glycerol

[glĭs′ə-rôl′]

A sweet, syrupy liquid obtained from animal fats and oils or by the fermentation of glucose. It is used as a solvent, sweetener, and antifreeze and in making explosives and soaps. Glycerol consists of a propane molecule attached to three hydroxyl (OH) groups. Also called glycerin, glycerine. Chemical formula: C3H8O3.