Any of a class of organic compounds with two hydroxyl groups, often used as antifreeze, solvents, or in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
From 'glyc-' (relating to sweetness or glycerin) + '-ol' (indicating an alcohol functional group). Glycols were discovered in the mid-1800s as chemists studied sugars and created new compounds.
Ethylene glycol is the sweet-tasting antifreeze that kills pets and people if ingested, while propylene glycol is the 'safe' version used in food and cosmetics—same chemical family, wildly different toxicity!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.