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lauryl alcohol

American  
[lawr-il, lor-] / ˈlɔr ɪl, ˈlɒr- /

noun

Chemistry.
  1. a compound that, depending upon purity, is either a crystalline solid or colorless liquid, C 12 H 26 O, obtained by the reduction of fatty acids of coconut oil: used chiefly in the manufacture of synthetic detergents.


lauryl alcohol British  
/ ˈlɒ-, ˈlɔːrɪl /

noun

  1. a water-insoluble crystalline solid used in the manufacture of detergents; 1-dodecanol. Formula: CH 3 (CH 2 ) 10 CH 2 OH

"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

lauryl alcohol Scientific  
/ lôrəl /
  1. A colorless solid alcohol used in synthetic detergents and pharmaceuticals. Chemical formula: C 12 H 26 O.


Etymology

Origin of lauryl alcohol

First recorded in 1920–25; laur(ic) + -yl

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Jason brand said on its website that coconut oil, from which sodium coco sulfate is derived, naturally contains lauryl alcohol, which is what is used to make sodium lauryl sulfate.

From The Wall Street Journal

The foaming agent, lauryl alcohol, is acutely toxic to marine animals, but has been deemed harmless to human health.

From The Guardian

I picked out the pungent, aromatic odor of toluene and the hospital smell of diethyl ether, and I thought I could detect the heavy odor of lauryl alcohol.

From Project Gutenberg