an odorless, colorless, syrupy liquid, CH(OH), prepared by the hydrolysis of fats and oils: it is used as a solvent, skin lotion, food preservative, etc., and in the manufacture of explosives, alkyd resins, etc.
Origin:
glycer(in) + -ol
See glycerol in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
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.