noun
ChemistryAny of a number of saturated alcohols having the formula C₁₈ H₃₇ OH, of which many isomers exist; specifically (also "n-octadecanol" or "1-octadecanol") the unbranched primary alcohol CH₃ (CH₂)₁₆ CH₂ OH, a crystalline substance found in whale oils (also called stearyl alcohol).
Origin
Early 20th century; earliest use found in Journal of the Chemical Society. From octadecane + -ol.
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