- alcohol
- alcohol [al′kə hôl΄, al′kəhäl΄]n.[ML, term used by PARACELSUS Philippus Aureolus for fine powder, distilled spirit < Ar alkuḥl, antimony powder, collyrium < al, the + kuḥl, KOHL]1. a colorless, volatile, pungent liquid, C2H5OH: it can be burned as fuel (10-15% of gasohol), is used in industry and medicine, and is the intoxicating element of whiskey, wine, beer, and other fermented or distilled liquors: classed as a depressant drug: also called ethyl alcohol2. any intoxicating liquor with this liquid in it3. the drinking of such liquors [alcohol was his downfall]4. a class of organic compounds, including ethyl or methyl (wood) alcohol, that contain one or more hydroxyl groups (OH) and form esters in reactions with acids
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.