Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • An initial member in many compound terms in chemistry, often written as if a separate word, hydroxy, indicating that the substance designated contains the hydroxyl radical or group, HO. The term oxy- is often used, less correctly, with the same meaning.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • (Chem.) A combining form, also used adjectively, indicating hydroxyl as an ingredient.
  • (Chem.) an organic acid, having (besides the hydroxyl group of the carboxyl radical) an alcoholic hydroxyl group, and thus having the qualities of an alcohol in addition to its acid properties; as, lactic and tartaric acids are hydroxy acids.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • prefix chemistry having, or derived from a hydroxyl radical

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective being or containing a hydroxyl group

Etymologies

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