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alcohol

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alcohol


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Alcohol  \Al"co*hol\  ([a^]l"k[-o]*h[o^]l),  n.  [Cf.  F.  alcool 
  formerly  written  alcohol,  Sp  alcohol  alcohol,  antimony, 
  galena,  OSp.  alcofol  all  fr  Ar  al-kohl  a  powder  of 
  antimony  or  galena,  to  paint  the  eyebrows  with  The  name  was 
  afterwards  applied,  on  account  of  the  fineness  of  this 
  powder,  to  highly  rectified  spirits,  a  signification  unknown 
  in  Arabia.  The  Sp  word  has  both  meanings.  Cf  {Alquifou}.] 
  1.  An  impalpable  powder.  [Obs.] 
 
  2.  The  fluid  essence  or  pure  spirit  obtained  by  distillation. 
  [Obs.]  --Boyle. 
 
  3.  Pure  spirit  of  wine;  pure  or  highly  rectified  spirit 
  (called  also  {ethyl  alcohol});  the  spirituous  or 
  intoxicating  element  of  fermented  or  distilled  liquors,  or 
  more  loosely  a  liquid  containing  it  in  considerable 
  quantity.  It  is  extracted  by  simple  distillation  from 
  various  vegetable  juices  and  infusions  of  a  saccharine 
  nature,  which  have  undergone  vinous  fermentation. 
 
  Note:  As  used  in  the  U.  S.  ``Pharmacop[oe]ia,''  alcohol 
  contains  91  per  cent  by  weight  of  ethyl  alcohol  and  9 
  per  cent  of  water;  and  diluted  alcohol  (proof  spirit) 
  contains  45.5  per  cent  by  weight  of  ethyl  alcohol  and 
  54.5  per  cent  of  water. 
 
  4.  (Organic  Chem.)  A  class  of  compounds  analogous  to  vinic 
  alcohol  in  constitution.  Chemically  speaking,  they  are 
  hydroxides  of  certain  organic  radicals;  as  the  radical 
  ethyl  forms  common  or  {ethyl  alcohol}  ({C2H5.OH});  methyl 
  forms  {methyl  alcohol}  ({CH3.OH})  or  {wood  spirit};  amyl 
  forms  {amyl  alcohol}  ({C5H11.OH})  or  {fusel  oil},  etc 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  alcohol 
  n  1:  a  liquor  or  brew  containing  alcohol  as  the  active  agent; 
  "alcohol  (or  drink)  ruined  him"  [syn:  {alcoholic 
  beverage},  {drink},  {intoxicant},  {inebriant}] 
  2:  any  of  a  series  of  volatile  hydroxyl  compounds  that  are  made 
  from  hydrocarbons  by  distillation 




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