Definition

Noun: * A type of denatured alcohol, primarily ethanol, that has been rendered unfit for drinking and is used for medical and antiseptic purposes. Its primary use is to disinfect skin and surfaces, particularly before injections or surgical procedures.

Usage

• As a disinfectant: Used to clean skin to reduce the risk of infection from needles or incisions.
  • The nurse cleaned the patient's arm with surgical spirit before giving the injection.
• For sterilizing equipment: Used to disinfect small medical instruments or surfaces.
  • She wiped the tweezers with surgical spirit to sterilize them.
• General first aid: Used for cleaning minor cuts and abrasions.
  • Apply a little surgical spirit to the scrape to prevent it from getting infected.

Advanced Usage

• In laboratory settings: Sometimes used as a solvent or cleaning agent for delicate equipment.
  • The slides were cleaned with surgical spirit to remove any residue.
• As a fuel: Can be used in small spirit burners or stoves, though this is less common.
  • The camping stove was designed to run on surgical spirit.

Variants and Related Words

• Rubbing alcohol (US English): A very similar product, often with the same primary use. "Surgical spirit" is the more common term in British English.
• Isopropyl alcohol: Another common antiseptic liquid used for similar purposes. It is chemically different from ethanol-based surgical spirit but serves an identical disinfectant function.
• Antiseptic: A general term for any substance that stops or slows the growth of microorganisms. Surgical spirit is a type of antiseptic.
• Disinfectant: A substance used to destroy germs on non-living surfaces. Surgical spirit acts as a disinfectant.

Synonyms

• Antiseptic spirit
• Denatured alcohol (for medical use)
• Rubbing alcohol (chiefly US)

Notes on Meaning

• The term is primarily used in British English. In American English, "rubbing alcohol" is the more common equivalent.
• It is important to distinguish it from drinking alcohol (ethanol), as surgical spirit contains additives that make it poisonous.
• While effective for surface disinfection, it is not typically used on deep or serious wounds as it can damage tissue and delay healing.

Noun

1. methylated spirit used in the practice of medicine (especially for cleansing the skin before injections or before surgery)