rubbing alcohol
- noun
- /ˈrʌbɪŋ ˈæl.kə.hɔl/
- US
- Before applying the bandage, make sure to use rubbing alcohol to disinfect the area.
- bottle of rubbing alcohol
- cotton ball with rubbing alcohol
- soaked in rubbing alcohol
So after derma rolling, do not forget to put it into rubbing alcohol.
- So after derma rolling, do not forget to put it into rubbing alcohol.
- So my next question is can one get inhalation drunk on rubbing alcohol?
Examples
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''Swab the finger with the rubbing alcohol.''
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Two bottles of rubbing alcohol.
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Easy on, easy off; they can be removed with baby oil or rubbing alcohol.
Blog text (19) -
It's three parts water, one part rubbing alcohol.
Blog text (17) -
I need rubbing alcohol and plastic.
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Put it inside a container and pour in rubbing alcohol until it's covered.
Blog text (9) -
I take some rubbing alcohol to get the scar tissue to heal up.
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Jack, I need a washcloth, rubbing alcohol, any bandages and an ice pack, and let's get the room ready for him.
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Frida dabs his scratches with the rubbing alcohol.
Fiction book (1999) -
I spent the next fifteen minutes prying off the keys and cleaning them with cotton swabs and rubbing alcohol.
Blog text (16)
Synonyms
A clear flammable liquid that is the alcohol in drinks and used as a fuel and to dissolve things
A clear liquid that burns easily and cleans skin, kills germs, and removes grease
A flammable alcohol used for cleaning and killing germs
A clear, flammable liquid used to make drinks like beer and wine and for cleaning and fuel
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is directly analyzable: 'rubbing' indicates the manner/purpose (for rubbing on the skin) and 'alcohol' names the substance, so the phrase denotes alcohol intended for rubbing (i.e., a topical disinfectant). This compositional logic is straightforward and mirrored in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words can readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Rubbing alcohol comes from how people used it: they would rub alcohol on the skin to clean cuts or soothe aches, so the name means 'alcohol for rubbing on the body'.