an impalpable powder.-the fluid essence or pure spirit obtained by distillation.-pure spirit of wine; pure or highly rectified spirit (called also ethyl alcohol); the spirituous or intoxicating element of fermented or distilled liquors, or more loosely a liquid containing it in considerable quantity. it is extracted by simple distillation from various vegetable juices and infusions of a saccharine nature, which have undergone vinous fermentation.-a class of compounds analogous to vinic alcohol in constitution. chemically speaking, they are hydroxides of certain organic radicals; as, the radical ethyl forms common or ethyl alcohol (c2h5.oh); methyl forms methyl alcohol (ch3.oh) or wood spirit; amyl forms amyl alcohol (c5h11.oh) or fusel oil, etc.