ethyl alcohol

Other forms: ethyl alcohols

Definitions of ethyl alcohol

1. noun

   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
   synonyms: ethanol, fermentation alcohol, grain alcohol

   types:

   spirits of wine

   rectified ethyl alcohol

   absolute alcohol

   pure ethyl alcohol (containing no more than 1% water)

   denatured alcohol

   ethyl alcohol that is unfit for drinking but is still useful for other purposes

   methylated spirit

   ethyl alcohol denatured with methyl alcohol to prevent its use as an alcoholic beverage

   type of:

   alcohol

   any of a series of volatile hydroxyl compounds that are made from hydrocarbons by distillation

   plant product

   a product made from plant material
2. noun

   nonflavored alcohol of 95 percent or 190 proof used for blending with straight whiskies and in making gin and liqueurs
   synonyms: neutral spirits

   type of:

   alcohol, alcoholic beverage, alcoholic drink, inebriant, intoxicant

   a liquor or brew containing alcohol as the active agent