name · noun · 3 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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UK:/ˈɛθaɪl/
UK:/ˈɛθɪl/
UK:/ˈiːθaɪl/
UK:/ˈiːθɪl/
Canada, US:/ˈɛθəl/
Canada:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
homophone: Ethel (for one pronunciation of ethyl)
rhymes with -ɛθɪl
CMU ARPABET:EH1 TH AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
name
Meaning 1
Alternative form of Ethel: a female given name.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: alt-of, alternative
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The univalent hydrocarbon radical, C2H5, formally derived from ethane by the loss of a hydrogen atom.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
the univalent hydrocarbon radical C2H5 derived from ethane by the removal of one hydrogen atom
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: ethyl group, ethyl radical
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: alkyl, alkyl group, alkyl radical
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h2eydh-der. Proto-Hellenic *áithō Ancient Greek αἴθω (aíthō) ▲ Ancient Greek ᾱ̓ήρ (āḗr)influ.? Ancient Greek αἰθήρ (aithḗr)der. Latin aethērbor. German Äther German Ether Proto-Indo-European *swel-der.? Ancient Greek ῡ̔́λη (hū́lē)der. German -yl German Ethylbor. English ethyl From German Ethyl, from Ether + -yl.
Across languages
Translations
17 source translations are retained for this English entry.