methylated spirit

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Explanation of "Methylated Spirit"

Definition:Methylated spirit is a type of alcohol that is mainly composed of ethyl alcohol (the kind found in beverages) but has been mixed with methyl alcohol (also known as methanol). The purpose of adding methyl alcohol is to make the liquid undrinkable, or "denatured," so that it cannot be used as an alcoholic drink.

Example:

• "I used methylated spirit to clean the glass surfaces in my house because it evaporates quickly and leaves no residue."

Advanced Usage:

In laboratory settings, methylated spirits can be used as a disinfectant or for cleaning laboratory equipment. It's also used in some industrial applications where a strong solvent is needed.

Word Variants:

• Methylated Spirit (noun): The term itself.
• Methylation (noun): The process of adding a methyl group to a molecule, often used in chemistry.

Different Meanings:

While "methylated spirit" specifically refers to the denatured alcohol, the word "spirit" can also refer to any distilled alcoholic beverage in a broader sense.

Synonyms:

• Denatured alcohol
• Methylated alcohol
• Industrial alcohol

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While "methylated spirit" does not have specific idioms or phrasal verbs associated with it, a related idiom in English could be "spirits" when referring to alcoholic drinks in general.

Important Note:

Always remember that methylated spirits are toxic and should be handled with care.

Academic

Noun

1. ethyl alcohol denatured with methyl alcohol to prevent its use as an alcoholic beverage