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Alcohol Definition: Beverage & Disinfectant Uses (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：Intoxicating beverage (alcohol)
alcohol
/ˈæl.kə.hɒl/
n.
Drinks like beer or wine that can change how you feel and make you drunk if you have too much.
Intoxicating beverage
➕
/ɪnˈtɒksɪkeɪtɪŋ ˈbevərɪdʒ/
n.
Refers to drinks containing ethanol, such as beer, wine, or liquor, which can cause intoxication when consumed in excess.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Arabic 'al-kuhl' (powdered antimony), later referring to distilled spirits.
💡 Mnemonic
Think of 'al' as 'all' and 'cohol' as 'cool' – all cool drinks contain it, but too much makes you lose cool.
📖 Example
After a long week, she enjoys a glass of wine, but she always limits her alcohol to one drink.
After a long week, she enjoys a glass of wine, but she always limits her alcohol to one drink.
🔗 Collocations
alcohol consumption – The act of drinking alcoholic beverages
alcohol abuse – Excessive or harmful use of alcoholic drinks
alcohol content – The percentage of ethanol in a drink
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
nonalcoholic beverage (n.) – A drink that contains no alcohol
soft drink (n.) – A carbonated nonalcoholic drink
juice (n.) – A natural liquid from fruits or vegetables
🌱 Derivatives
alcoholic (adj./n.) – Relating to alcohol; a person addicted to alcohol
alcoholism (n.) – Chronic addiction to alcohol
nonalcoholic (adj.) – Containing no alcohol
📖 Cultural Story
Originally a fine powder used as eye makeup in ancient Middle East. Later, alchemists applied the term to any purified essence, eventually narrowing to ethanol in drinks.
Meaning 2：Medical disinfectant (alcohol)
alcohol
/ˈæl.kə.hɒl/
n.
A clear liquid (ethanol) used in science, medicine, or to power things. It's the pure stuff that makes drinks alcoholic.
Medical disinfectant
➕
/ˈmɛdɪkəl ˌdɪsɪnˈfɛktənt/
n.
Refers to pure ethanol or isopropyl alcohol used as a disinfectant or cleaning agent, especially in medical settings.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
The nurse cleaned the cut with alcohol before putting on a bandage.
The nurse cleaned the cut with alcohol before putting on a bandage.
🔗 Collocations
rubbing alcohol – A solution of isopropyl alcohol used for disinfection
alcohol swab – A small pad soaked in alcohol for cleaning skin
isopropyl alcohol – A specific type of alcohol used as a disinfectant
🔄 Synonyms
ethanol (n.) – The chemical name for the type of alcohol found in drinks and used as a disinfectant
disinfectant (n.) – A chemical substance that kills germs on surfaces
antiseptic (adj./n.) – A substance that stops the growth of germs on living tissue
🚫 Antonyms
contaminant (n.) – A substance that makes something impure or dirty
impurity (n.) – Something that makes a substance not pure
🌱 Derivatives
alcoholic (adj./n.) – Relating to alcohol; a person addicted to alcohol
alcoholism (n.) – Chronic addiction to alcohol
alcohol-free (adj.) – Containing no alcohol
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