spermaceti
[ spur-muh-set-ee, -see-tee ]
/ ˌspɜr məˈsɛt i, -ˈsi ti /
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noun Chemistry, Pharmacology.
a pearly white, waxy, translucent solid, obtained from the oil in the head of the sperm whale: used chiefly in cosmetics and candles, and as an emollient.
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Also called cetaceum.
Origin of spermaceti
OTHER WORDS FROM spermaceti
sper·ma·cet·i·like, adjectiveWords nearby spermaceti
spent gnat, speos, Speranski, sperm, sperma-, spermaceti, spermacytic seminoma, spermagonium, -spermal, spermary, sperm-aster
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for spermaceti
British Dictionary definitions for spermaceti
spermaceti
/ (ˌspɜːməˈsɛtɪ, -ˈsiːtɪ) /
noun
a white waxy substance obtained from oil from the head of the sperm whale: used in cosmetics, candles, ointments, etc
Word Origin for spermaceti
C15: from Medieval Latin sperma cētī whale's sperm, from sperma sperm 1 + Latin cētus whale, from Greek kētos
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Scientific definitions for spermaceti
spermaceti
[ spûr′mə-sē′tē ]
A white, waxy substance that is obtained from the head of the sperm whale and sometimes other whales, porpoises, and dolphins, and was once widely used to make candles, ointments, and cosmetics. Spermaceti is a liquid at body temperature and consists primarily of fatty alcohols and esters of fatty acids. Spermaceti is produced by the spermaceti organ, a huge melon-shaped sac that may function as a battering ram in aggressive behavior between males.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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