Standard Lemma guide

cetyl

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The univalent hexadecyl radical C16H33- present in many waxes.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: chemistry, natural-sciences, organic-chemistry, physical-sciences

Examples

  • 1997, David M. Hawcroft, The Basics: Electrophoresis, IRL Press, Oxford University Press, page 30, Other detergents are available, including alternative ionic forms (such as the cetyls) for cleaving nucleic acid-protein bonds.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Ancient Greek κῆτος (kêtos)bor. Latin cētus Proto-Indo-European *swel-der.? Ancient Greek ῡ̔́λη (hū́lē)der. Frenchder. English -yl English cetyl From Latin cētus (“whale”) + English -yl.