glycerol
[ glis-uh-rawl, -rol ]
/ ˈglɪs əˌrɔl, -ˌrɒl /
noun
a colorless, odorless, syrupy, sweet liquid, C3H8O3, usually obtained by the saponification of natural fats and oils: used for sweetening and preserving food, in the manufacture of cosmetics, perfumes, inks, and certain glues and cements, as a solvent and automobile antifreeze, and in medicine in suppositories and skin emollients.
Also called
glycerin,
glycerine.
Origin of glycerol
First recorded in 1880–85;
glycer(in) +
-ol1
Words nearby glycerol
Example sentences from the Web for glycerol
British Dictionary definitions for glycerol
glycerol
/ (ˈɡlɪsəˌrɒl) /
noun
a colourless or pale yellow odourless sweet-tasting syrupy liquid; 1,2,3-propanetriol: a by-product of soap manufacture, used as a solvent, antifreeze, plasticizer, and sweetener (E422). Formula: C 3 H 8 O 3
Also called (not in technical usage): glycerine, glycerin
Word Origin for glycerol
C19: from
glycer (
ine) +
-ol
1
Medical definitions for glycerol
glycerol
[ glĭs′ə-rôl′, -rōl′ ]
n.
A sweet syrupy fluid obtained by the saponification of fats and fixed oils, used as a solvent, a skin emollient, and as a vehicle and sweetening agent; it is also used by injection or in suppository form for constipation and orally to reduce ocular tension.
Scientific definitions for glycerol
glycerol
[ glĭs′ə-rôl′ ]
A sweet, syrupy liquid obtained from animal fats and oils or by the fermentation of glucose. It is used as a solvent, sweetener, and antifreeze and in making explosives and soaps. Glycerol consists of a propane molecule attached to three hydroxyl (OH) groups. Also called glycerin, glycerine. Chemical formula: C3H8O3.