hydroxylation

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noun

The introduction of a hydroxyl group into a molecule, especially by the replacement of a hydrogen atom

OriginEnglish hydroxyl ← Ancient Greek ῡ̔́λη (hū́lē) ← Proto-Indo-European *swel-der.? →
UncommonScrabble 30
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Meanings

nounhydroxylation (plural hydroxylations)

plural hydroxylations

  1. chemistryThe introduction of a hydroxyl group into a molecule, especially by the replacement of a hydrogen atom

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*wed-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*wódr̥
  3. Proto-Hellenic*údōr
  4. Ancient Greekῡ̆̔́δωρ (hū̆́dōr)
  5. Ancient Greekὑδρο- (hudro-)
  6. Frenchhydro-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*ǵenh₁-
  8. Proto-Indo-European*ǵénh₁os
  9. Proto-Hellenic*génos
  10. Ancient Greekγένος (génos)
  11. Frenchhydrogène
  12. Englishhydrogen
  13. Proto-Indo-European*h₂eḱ-der.?
  14. Ancient Greekὀξύς (oxús)
  15. Ancient Greekγένος (génos)
  16. Frenchoxygène
  17. Englishoxygen
  18. Proto-Indo-European*swel-der.?
  19. Ancient Greekῡ̔́λη (hū́lē)
  20. Englishhydroxyl
  21. Englishhydroxylation

From hydroxyl + -ation.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

hydroxylation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hydroxylation

MLA

“hydroxylation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hydroxylation. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hydroxylation,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hydroxylation.

Source: hydroxylation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.