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ethanol

American  
[eth-uh-nawl, -nol] / ˈɛθ əˌnɔl, -ˌnɒl /

noun

Chemistry.

  1. alcohol.

ethanol British  
/ ˈiːθə-, ˈɛθəˌnɒl /

noun

  1. the technical name for alcohol

"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
ethanol Scientific  
/ ĕth′ə-nôl′ /

  1. An alcohol obtained from the fermentation of sugars and starches or by chemical synthesis. It is the intoxicating ingredient of alcoholic beverages, and is also used as a solvent, in explosives, and as an additive to or replacement for petroleum-based fuels. Also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol. Chemical formula: C 2 H 6 O.

ethanol Cultural  

  1. Another name for ethyl alcohol.

Etymology

Origin of ethanol

First recorded in 1895–1900; ethane + -ol 1

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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.

Crush margins for its ethanol were 15 cents a gallon more than the prior year, says the firm.

From The Wall Street Journal

In previous years, France has subsidised the distilling of some of its surplus wine into ethanol alcohol, which can then be used for industrial purposes.

From Barron's

Top imports included cotton, soybean oil, ethanol and various nuts such as almonds.

From Barron's

When the material was washed with ethanol, it appeared transparent and showed no visible image.

From Science Daily

Corn and soybeans both move in relation to oil, due to their use as the main feedstocks to produce renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.