ethanol
UK[ˈeθənɒl]US[ˈeθəˌnɔːl]
n
a colorless volatile flammable liquid which is the intoxicating agent in drinks such as wine, beer, and spirits, and is also used as a solvent or fuel.
n
the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, produced by the fermentation of sugars.
Morpheme Breakdown
eth
an
ol
eth
aetyl
an
alkane suffix
ol
alcohol suffix
Etymology
the word ethanol is a modern scientific construction from the late 19th century, systematically built from international chemical nomenclature. it combines eth, referring to the two-carbon ethyl group derived from ether, with the hydrocarbon suffix an, indicating its saturated alkane structure, and finally the functional group suffix ol, designating it as an alcohol. the term logically follows the pattern of naming alcohols by their parent hydrocarbon chain, with methanol and propanol as clear analogues. thus, ethanol literally means the alcohol derived from the two-carbon ethane series, precisely describing its chemical identity distinct from the broader, common term alcohol.
Analysis
Structure: eth (aetyl) + an (alkane suffix) + ol (alcohol suffix)
eth: from international scientific vocabulary "ethyl", itself from "ether" (via german "äther") and ultimately greek "aithēr" (upper air, pure fresh air). functions as the root denoting the two-carbon hydrocarbon group (aetyl).
an: a suffix of international scientific vocabulary used in the names of saturated hydrocarbons (alkanes), from a rearrangement of "-ane". indicates it belongs to the alkane series.
ol: a suffix in international scientific vocabulary denoting alcohols and phenols, from "alcohol", shortened from latin "alcohol" and ultimately from arabic "al-kuḥl". functions as the functional group identifier.
Examples
most gasoline in the united states is blended with ethanol to reduce emissions.
the laboratory uses pure ethanol as a solvent for various organic compounds.
the production of ethanol from corn is a major industry in some agricultural regions.