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spermaceti

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

sper•ma•cet•i (spûr′mə set′ē, -sē′tē),USA pronunciation n. [Chem., Pharm.]

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

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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spermaceti