spermaceti

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˌspɜːməˈsɛtɪ/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(spûr′mə set′ē, -sē′tē)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
sper•ma•cet•i  (spûr′mə set′ē, -sē′tē),USA pronunciation n. [Chem., Pharm.]
  1. Chemistry, Drugs, Drugsa pearly white, waxy, translucent solid, obtained from the oil in the head of the sperm whale: used chiefly in cosmetics and candles, and as an emollient. Also called cetaceum. 
  • Medieval Latin sperma cētī sperm of whale (see sperm1, cet-)
  • late Middle English sperma cete 1425–75
sper′ma•cet′i•like′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
spermaceti /ˌspɜːməˈsɛtɪ; -ˈsiːtɪ/ n
  1. a white waxy substance obtained from oil from the head of the sperm whale: used in cosmetics, candles, ointments, etc
Etymology: 15th Century: from Medieval Latin sperma cētī whale's sperm, from sperma sperm1 + Latin cētus whale, from Greek kētos
'spermaceti' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
camphor ice - sperm - sperm whale - case - cetaceum - cetin - cetyl alcohol - palmitic acid - wax

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