Ethanol

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Alcohol \Al"co*hol\ ([a^]l"k[-o]*h[o^]l), n. [Cf. F. alcool,
     formerly written alcohol, Sp. alcohol alcohol, antimony,
     galena, OSp. alcofol; all fr. Ar. al-kohl a powder of
     antimony or galena, to paint the eyebrows with. The name was
     afterwards applied, on account of the fineness of this
     powder, to highly rectified spirits, a signification unknown


     in Arabia. The Sp. word has both meanings. Cf. {Alquifou}.]
     1. An impalpable powder. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The fluid essence or pure spirit obtained by distillation.
        [Obs.] --Boyle.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Pure spirit of wine; pure or highly rectified spirit
        (called also {ethyl alcohol} or {ethanol}, {CH3.CH2.OH});
        the spirituous or intoxicating element of fermented or
        distilled liquors, or more loosely a liquid containing it
        in considerable quantity. It is extracted by simple
        distillation from various vegetable juices and infusions
        of a saccharine nature, which have undergone vinous
        fermentation.
  
     Note: [The ferementation is usually carried out by addition
           of brewer's yeast, {Saccharomyces cerevisiae} to an
           aqueous solution containing carbohydrates.]
           [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
     Note: As used in the U. S. "Pharmacop[oe]ia," alcohol
           contains 91 per cent by weight of ethyl alcohol and 9
           per cent of water; and diluted alcohol (proof spirit)
           contains 45.5 per cent by weight of ethyl alcohol and
           54.5 per cent of water.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     4. (Organic Chem.) A class of compounds analogous to vinic
        alcohol in constitution. Chemically speaking, they are
        hydroxides of certain organic radicals; as, the radical
        ethyl forms common or {ethyl alcohol} ({C2H5.OH}); methyl
        forms {methyl alcohol} ({CH3.OH}) or {wood alcohol}; amyl
        forms {amyl alcohol} ({C5H11.OH}) or {fusel oil}, etc.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  ethanol \eth"an*ol\ ([e^]th"[a^]n*[add]l), n. (Chem.)
     The organic compound {C2H5.OH}, the common {alcohol} which is
     the intoxicating agent in beer, wine, and other fermented and
     distilled liquors; called also {ethyl alcohol}. It is used
     pure or denatured as a solvent or in medicines and colognes
     and cleaning solutions, or mixed in gasoline as a fuel for
     automobiles, and as a rocket fuel (as in the V-2 rocket).
  
     Syn: ethyl alcohol, fermentation alcohol, grain alcohol.
          [WordNet 1.5]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  ethanol
       n : the intoxicating agent in fermented and distilled liquors;
           used pure or denatured as a solvent or in medicines and
           colognes and cleaning solutions and rocket fuel; proposed
           as a renewable clean-burning additive to gasoline [syn: {ethyl
           alcohol}, {fermentation alcohol}, {grain alcohol}]