[¦tü ə¦mē·nō ¦wən ¦byüt·ən‚ȯl] (organic chemistry) CH3CH2CH(NH2) CH2OH A liquid miscible with water, soluble in alcohols; used in the synthesis of surface-active agents, vulcanizing accelerators, and pharmaceuticals, and as an emulsifying agent for such products as cosmetic creams and lotions.