a colourless or pale yellow odourless sweet-tasting syrupy liquid; 1,2,3-propanetriol: a by-product of soap manufacture, used as a solvent, antifreeze, plasticizer, and sweetener (E422). Formula: C3H8O3
Also called (not in technical usage): glycerine, glycerin
Word origin
C19: from glycer(ine) + -ol1
glycerol in American English
(ˈglɪsərˌɔl; ˈglɪsərˌoʊl)
noun
an odorless, colorless, syrupy liquid, C3H5(OH)3, prepared by the hydrolysis of fats and oils: it is used as a solvent, skin lotion, food preservative, etc., and in the manufacture of explosives, alkyd resins, etc.
see also glycerin
Word origin
glycerin + -ol1
Examples of 'glycerol' in a sentence
glycerol
It then suspends them in liquid glycerol to be put into aerosols.