Alcohol
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈæl.kə.hɒl/ · Part of speech noun
Quick meaning: Alcohol is a noun meaning (organic chemistry, countable) Any of a class of organic compounds (such as ethanol) containing a hydroxyl functional group (-OH).
Meaning
(organic chemistry, countable) Any of a class of organic compounds (such as ethanol) containing a hydroxyl functional group (-OH).
More Meanings
- (pharmacology, colloquial) Ethanol.
- (uncountable) Beverages containing ethanol, collectively.
- (obsolete) Any very fine powder.
Example Sentences
Our stomachs and livers have an enzyme known as alcohol dehydrogenase that breaks down ethanol to make it less toxic for our bodies, said Atlanta gastroenterologist Dr. Preston Stewart.
Risk is everywhere. From tabloid headlines insisting that coffee causes cancer (yesterday, of course, it cured it) to stern government warnings about alcohol and driving, the world is teeming with goblins.
Word Forms
- alcohols
Synonyms for alcohol
Depending on context, synonyms include bevvy, booze, carouse, drink, fuddling, grog.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include drink, intoxicant, inebriant, ethanol, isopropyl, ethyl.
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Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.