alcohols

Noun

alcohol (countable and uncountable, plural alcohols)

1. (countable) Any of a class of organic compounds (such as ethanol) containing a hydroxyl functional group (-OH).
   • 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.2012 September 26, Jacque Wilson, “Experts: Alcohol enemas ‘extremely dangerous’”, in CNN
2. (colloquial) Ethanol.
3. (uncountable) Beverages containing ethanol, collectively.
   • 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.2013 June 22, “Snakes and ladders”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, archived from the original on 24 Aug 2019, page 76

   Synonyms:

   adult beverage, bevvy, booze, carouse, drink, fuddling, grog, hard drink, libation, liquor

4. (obsolete) Any very fine powder.