al·co·hol
(ăl′kə-hôl′, -hŏl′)n.
1. Any of a series of hydroxyl compounds, the simplest of which are derived from saturated hydrocarbons, have the general formula CnH2n+1OH, and include ethanol and methanol.
2. A colorless volatile flammable liquid, C2H5OH, synthesized or obtained by fermentation of sugars and starches and widely used, either pure or denatured, as a solvent and in drugs, cleaning solutions, explosives, and intoxicating beverages. Also called ethanol, ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol.
3. Intoxicating beverages containing ethanol considered as a group: the national consumption of alcohol.
[Medieval Latin, fine metallic powder, especially of antimony, from Arabic al-kuḥl : al-, the + kuḥl, powder of antimony; see kx̣l in Semitic roots.]
Word History: The al- in alcohol may alert some readers to the fact that this is a word of Arabic descent, as is the case with algebra and alkali, al- being the Arabic definite article corresponding to the in English. The second part of the word, -cohol, comes from Arabic kuḥl, the word for a fine powder (most often made from antimony) used as a cosmetic to darken the eyelids. In fact, kuḥl has given us the word kohl for such a preparation. The Arabic phrase al-kuḥ, "the kohl," was borrowed into Medieval Latin as one word, alcohol, "koḥl." From Medieval Latin it was borrowed into English in the 16th century. In English, alcohol came to refer to any fine powder produced in a number of ways, as by heating a substance to a gaseous state and then cooling it. Alcohol could also be used to refer to essences obtained by distillation. One of these distilled essences produced by alchemists and early chemists, known as alcohol of wine, was the constituent of fermented liquors that causes intoxication, and the term alcohol came to refer to this essence (what modern chemists would call ethanol) in particular. Eventually, the liquors that contained this essence began to be called alcohol, too. In the terminology of modern chemistry, alcohol has also come to refer to the class of compounds to which ethanol belongs.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
alcohol
(ˈælkəˌhɒl)n
1. (Chemistry) Also called: ethanol or ethyl alcohol a colourless flammable liquid, the active principle of intoxicating drinks, produced by the fermentation of sugars, esp glucose, and used as a solvent and in the manufacture of organic chemicals. Formula: C2H5OH
2. (Brewing) a drink or drinks containing this substance
[C16: via New Latin from Medieval Latin, from Arabic al-kuhl powdered antimony; see kohl]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
al•co•hol
(ˈæl kəˌhɔl, -ˌhɒl)n.
1. Also called ethyl alcohol , grain alcohol, ethanol. a colorless, volatile, flammable liquid, C2H5OH, produced by yeast fermentation of carbohydrates or, synthetically, by hydration of ethylene: used chiefly as a solvent and in beverages and medicines.
2. an intoxicating liquor containing this liquid.
3. any of a class of chemical compounds having the general formula ROH, where R represents an alkyl group and –OH a hydroxyl group.
[1535–45; < New Latin < Medieval Latin < Arabic al-kuḥl the powdered antimony, the distillate]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
al·co·hol
(ăl′kə-hôl′)1. Any of a large number of colorless, flammable organic compounds that contain the hydroxyl group (OH). Names of alcohols usually end in -ol.
2. Ethanol.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Alcohol
an addiction to absinthe, a liqueur flavored with the narcotic wormwood, Artemisia absinthium. — absinthial, absinthian, adj.
a voluntary and habitual self-deprivation, especially from alcoholic beverages. — abstinent, adj.
1. an addiction to alcohol, especially involving compulsive, excessive consumption.
2. the pathological effects of such overindulgence. — alcoholic, n.
2. the pathological effects of such overindulgence. — alcoholic, n.
an obsession with alcohol.
an excessive liking for alcoholic beverages. — alcoholphile, n.
the state or doctrine of opposition to the excessive consumption of liquor. — antialcoholic, n., adj.
1. a devotion to drunken revelry and carousal in honor of Bacchus.
2. a dedication to such behavior on other occasions. — bacchanalian, n., adj.
2. a dedication to such behavior on other occasions. — bacchanalian, n., adj.
the state of being given to excessive drinking of alcohol. — bibacious, adj.
excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages. — bibulous, adj.
drinking together, usually to excess.
a drinking companion.
excessive indulgence in food or drink.
an insatiable craving for alcohol; chronic drunkenness. — dipsomaniac, n. — dipsomaniacal, adj.
an abnormal fear of drinking. — dipsophobe, n.
a device for measuring the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream, usually from the breath. Also called breathalyzer.
intoxication or inebriation, whether regarded as the condition, the process, or the habit.
drunkenness or intoxication from alcohol, especially as a habitual state.
a science that deals with ferments and fermentation, especially those concerned with the production of alcoholic beverages. — fermentologist, n.
drunkenness.
the opposite of sobriety; inebriation.
Jocular. an alcoholic beverage.
skill in the mixing of alcoholic drinks. — mixologist, n.
an adherence to the tenets of teetotalism. — nephalist, n., adj. — nephalistic, adj.
1. In ancient Greece or Rome. a wild celebration in honor of certain gods.
2. riotous merrymaking, especially with excessive indulgence in sex, alcohol, and drugs. — orgiast, n. — orgiastic, adj.
2. riotous merrymaking, especially with excessive indulgence in sex, alcohol, and drugs. — orgiast, n. — orgiastic, adj.
extreme thirst; an abnormal and continuous craving for drink.
1. excessive drinking of alcohol.
2. an alcoholic drink. See also food and nutrition.
2. an alcoholic drink. See also food and nutrition.
1. an excessive tendency to drink alcoholic beverages.
2. Also called tromomania. delirium tremens.
2. Also called tromomania. delirium tremens.
1. the principles governing the forbidding by law of the manufacture or sale of alcoholic beverages.
2. the interdiction itself. — prohibitionist, n. — Prohibition, n.
2. the interdiction itself. — prohibitionist, n. — Prohibition, n.
a member of the Independent Order of Rechabites, a secret society devoted to total abstention from intoxicating liquors, founded in England in 1835.
the principle or conscious practice of complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages. Also called total abstinence. — teetotaler, n.
delirium tremens. Also called potomania.
the theory or practice of prohibitionism; after the Volstead Act, which implemented U.S. prohibition, introduced by Andrew J. Volstead.
a member of the Washingtonian Society, a temperance society founded in the United States in 1843.
-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Noun | 1. |  alcohol - a liquor or brew containing alcohol as the active agent; "alcohol (or drink) ruined him"drug of abuse, street drug - a drug that is taken for nonmedicinal reasons (usually for mind-altering effects); drug abuse can lead to physical and mental damage and (with some substances) dependence and addiction beverage, drinkable, potable, drink - any liquid suitable for drinking; "may I take your beverage order?" proof spirit - a mixture containing half alcohol by volume at 60 degrees Fahrenheit aperitif - alcoholic beverage taken before a meal as an appetizer nipa - made from sap of the Australasian nipa palm booze, hard drink, hard liquor, John Barleycorn, liquor, spirits, strong drink - an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented neutral spirits, ethyl alcohol - nonflavored alcohol of 95 percent or 190 proof used for blending with straight whiskies and in making gin and liqueurs pulque - fermented Mexican drink from juice of various agave plants especially the maguey mixed drink - made of two or more ingredients hard cider - alcoholic drink from fermented cider; `cider' and `cyder' are European (especially British) usages for the fermented beverage perry - a fermented and often effervescent beverage made from juice of pears; similar in taste to hard cider rotgut - any alcoholic beverage of inferior quality slug - an amount of an alcoholic drink (usually liquor) that is poured or gulped; "he took a slug of hard liquor" |
| 2. |  alcohol - any of a series of volatile hydroxyl compounds that are made from hydrocarbons by distillationmethanol, methyl alcohol, wood alcohol, wood spirit - a light volatile flammable poisonous liquid alcohol; used as an antifreeze and solvent and fuel and as a denaturant for ethyl alcohol ethanol, ethyl alcohol, fermentation alcohol, grain alcohol - 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 isopropanol, isopropyl alcohol - alcohol used as antifreeze or a solvent allyl alcohol, propenyl alcohol - an unsaturated primary alcohol present in wood spirit; use to make resins and plasticizers and pharmaceuticals amyl alcohol - a mixture of 2 or more isomeric alcohols; used as a solvent and in organic synthesis butanol, butyl alcohol - a flammable alcohol derived from butanes and used for solvents cyclohexanol - a colorless oily alcohol that smells like camphor dihydric alcohol, diol, glycol - any of a class of alcohols having 2 hydroxyl groups in each molecule glycerin, glycerine, glycerol - a sweet syrupy trihydroxy alcohol obtained by saponification of fats and oils 1-dodecanol, lauryl alcohol - a colorless insoluble solid alcohol used to make detergents and pharmaceuticals liquid - a substance that is liquid at room temperature and pressure propanol, propyl alcohol - a clear colorless volatile liquid (alcohol) used as a solvent and antiseptic steroid alcohol, sterol - any of a group of natural steroid alcohols derived from plants or animals; they are waxy insoluble substances |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
alcohol
noun
1. drink, spirits, liquor, intoxicant, juice (informal), booze (informal), the bottle (informal), grog (informal, chiefly Austral. & N.Z.), the hard stuff (informal), strong drink, Dutch courage (informal), firewater, John Barleycorn, hooch or hootch (informal, chiefly U.S. & Canad.) No alcohol is allowed on the premises.
2. ethanol, ethyl alcohol Products for dry skin have little or no alcohol.
Related words
like dipsomania
see beers, cocktails, liqueurs, spirits, whiskies, wineslike dipsomania
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
كُحُولالكحولكحول
alkohol
alkohol
alkohol
alkoholi
alkohol
alkohol
alkohol
áfengialkóhól, vínandi
アルコール
알코올
alkoholikasalkoholinisalkoholisalkoholizmassukeltas alkoholio
alkohol
alkohol
alkoholsprit
เหล้า
rượu cồn
alcohol
[ˈælkəhɒl] N (= drink) → alcohol m (also Chem)I never touch alcohol → no pruebo el alcohol, soy abstemio
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
alcohol
[ˈælkəhɒl] n → alcool m
modif
alcohol consumption, alcohol intake → consommation f d'alcoolalcohol abuse n → abus m d'alcoolalcohol abuser n → ivrogne mfalcohol-free [ˌælkəhɒlˈfriː] adj → sans alcool
alcohol consumption, alcohol intake → consommation f d'alcoolalcohol abuse n → abus m d'alcoolalcohol abuser n → ivrogne mfalcohol-free [ˌælkəhɒlˈfriː] adj → sans alcool
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
alcohol
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
alcohol
(ˈӕlkəhol) noun liquid made by the fermentation or distillation of sugar, present in intoxicating drinks, used also as a fuel, and in thermometers. I never drink alcohol – I drink orange juice.
ˌalcoˈholic adjective1. of or containing alcohol. Is cider alcoholic?
2. caused by alcohol. an alcoholic stupor.
noun a person who suffers from a dependence on alcohol.
ˈalcoholism noun the condition suffered by an alcoholic.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
alcohol
→ كُحُول alkohol alkohol Alkohol οινόπνευμα alcohol alkoholi alcool alkohol alcol アルコール 알코올 alcohol alkohol alkohol álcool алкоголь alkohol เหล้า alkol rượu cồn 酒精Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
al·co·hol
n. alcohol;
___ detoxification → detoxificación alcohólica;
___ withdrawal syndrome → síndrome de privación alcohólica.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
Collins Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
alcohol
n alcohol m, bebidas alcohólicas (incluyendo vino y cerveza); Do you drink alcohol?..¿Toma Ud. bebidas alcohólicas? ¿vino? ¿cerveza?; denatured — alcohol desnaturalizado; rubbing — alcohol para fricciones, alcohol para frotarEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.