ˈalkə̇l noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably from German, from alkohol alcohol (from Medieval Latin alcohol ) + -yl
1.
a. : a univalent aliphatic radical C n H 2 n +1 (as methyl, ethyl) derived from an alkane by removal of one hydrogen atom
b. : any univalent aliphatic, aromatic-aliphatic, or alicyclic hydrocarbon radical
2. : a compound of one or more alkyl radicals with a metal
sodium alkyls