a. [f. ALCOHOL + -IC.]
1. Of or belonging to alcohol.
1790. Kerr, trans. Lavoisiers Chem., 51. The combination of alkohol with caloric, becomes alkoholic gas.
1800. Howard, in Phil. Trans., XC. 217. The alcoholic liquor was likewise evaporated to a dry salt.
1809. Nicholson, in Brit. Encycl., V. II. xvi. In making alcoholic tinctures.
1836. C. Redding, Mod. Wines, xv. (ed. 2), 326. Some ingenious observations upon the alcoholic principle in wine. Ibid., App. xxviii. 411. The mean alcoholic strength of wines.
1845. Penny Cycl., Supp. I. 73/1. A moderate use of alcoholic drinks.
1871. Tyndall, Fragm. Sc. (ed. 6), II. xii. 260. The true alcoholic fermentation.
1882. Med. Temp. Jrnl., No. 50. 77. Symptoms of chronic alcoholic poisoning.
2. Preserved in alcohol.
1852. Dana, Crustacea, I. 185. The specimen, an alcoholic one, has a pale brown colour.
3. Using or employing alcohol.
1856. Kane, Arct. Explor., II. 405. The differences which alcoholic thermometers exhibit.
B. sb. pl. Alcoholics = alcoholic liquors.