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: 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
Examples of cetyl alcohol in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
What exactly is cetyl alcohol?
—Devon Abelman, Allure, 17 July 2021
Fatty alcohols, like cetyl alcohol, do just the opposite.
—Devon Abelman, Allure, 17 July 2021
But fear not, cetyl alcohol is nothing of the sort.
—Devon Abelman, Allure, 17 July 2021
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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
Dictionary Entries Near cetyl alcohol
Cite this Entry
“Cetyl alcohol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cetyl%20alcohol. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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
More from Merriam-Webster on cetyl alcohol
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cetyl alcohol
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