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Pronunciation: sper′mă-set′ē
Definition: A peculiar fatty, waxy substance, chiefly cetin (cetyl palmitate), obtained from the head of the sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus; used to impart firmness to ointment bases.
Synonym(s): cetaceum
[sperma- + G. ketos, whale]
Examples: glitazone, GI cocktail, etc.
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