cetyl alcohol

noun

ce·​tyl alcohol ˈsē-tᵊl- 

: a waxy crystalline alcohol C₁₆H₃₄O obtained by the saponification of spermaceti or the hydrogenation of palmitic acid and used especially in pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations and in making detergents

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary cet- (from Latin cetus whale) + -yl; from its occurrence in spermaceti

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cetyl alcohol

• chloramphenicol
• dithiothreitol
• geospatial
• isopropanol
• paracetamol
• peroxisomal
• visuospatial
• aerosol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball

Kids Definition

cetyl alcohol

noun

ce·​tyl alcohol ˌsēt-ᵊl- 

: a waxy crystalline alcohol used especially in cosmetics, drugs, and detergents

Medical Definition

cetyl alcohol

noun

: a waxy crystalline alcohol C₁₆H₃₄O obtained by the saponification of spermaceti or the hydrogenation of palmitic acid and used especially in pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations and in making detergents