glyc·er·ol   Pronunciation Key  (gls-rôl, -rl)
n.
A syrupy, sweet, colorless or yellowish liquid, C3H8O3, obtained from fats and oils as a byproduct of saponification and used as a solvent, an antifreeze, a plasticizer, and a sweetener and in the manufacture of dynamite, cosmetics, liquid soaps, inks, and lubricants.
[glycer(in) + -ol1.]
 
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.


Glycerol

\Glyc"er*ol\, n. (Chem.) Same as Glycerin.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.


Glycerin \Glyc"er*in\, Glycerine \Glyc"er*ine\, n. [F. glyc['e]rine, fr. Gr. glykero`s, glyky`s, sweet. Cf. Glucose, Licorice.] (Chem.) An oily, viscous liquid, C3H5(OH)3, colorless and odorless, and with a hot, sweetish taste, existing in the natural fats and oils as the base, combined with various acids, as oleic, margaric, stearic, and palmitic. It is a triatomic alcohol, and hence is also called glycerol. See Note under Gelatin.

Note: It is obtained from fats by saponification, or, on a large scale, by the action of superheated steam. It is used as an ointment, as a solvent and vehicle for medicines, and as an adulterant in wine, beer, etc.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.


Glycerol

n : a glyceryl ester obtained by saponification of fats and oils [syn: glycerin, glycerine]
Source: WordNet ® 1.6, © 1997 Princeton University