Al"co*hol (ăl"k&osl;*h&obreve;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.

&fist; As used in the U. S. "Pharmacopœia," 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.

• an intoxicating beverage made by the fermentation of sugar or sugar-containing material.
  
• (Chemistry): any of a class of organic compounds (such as ethanol) containing a hydroxyl functional group(-OH).
  
  Dutch
• alcohol
  
  Spanish
• alcohol