1. A colorless, volatile, nonflammable, slightly water-soluble, pungent, sweet-tasting liquid, usually derived from acetone, acetaldehyde, or ethyl alcohol by the reaction of chloride of lime.

Used primarily in medicine as a solvent and formerly as an anesthetic.

2. A colorless sweet-smelling toxic liquid that rapidly changes to a vapor and causes unconsciousness if inhaled.

It is now known to have damaging effects on the ozone layer; formerly used as, a solvent, a cleaning agent, and an anesthetic.