# glycerin

CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/glycerin
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

a thick, sweet, clear liquid made from fats and oils. Makers use it in soap, skin cream, and sweets to keep them soft and moist.

For teachers: a colourless, viscous, sweet-tasting trihydric alcohol derived from fats and oils, used as a humectant, solvent, and sweetener in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

## Examples

- This hand cream contains glycerin for soft skin.
- The soap maker adds glycerin to the mixture to keep the bars moist and gentle on dry hands.
- Because glycerin draws moisture from the air, chemists prize it as a humectant that prevents cough syrups, toothpastes, and fondant icings from drying out.

## Synonyms

glycerine, glycerol

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.