(N/A) Alcohols and phenols are formed by the replacement of a hydrogen atom in an aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon,respectively,by a hydroxyl $(-OH)$ group.
Ethers are formed by the replacement of the hydrogen atom in a hydrocarbon by an alkoxy or aryloxy group. Alternatively,ethers can be visualized as the replacement of the hydrogen atom of the $-OH$ group of an alcohol or phenol by an alkyl or aryl group.
Alcohols contain one or more than one $-OH$ group$(s)$ bonded directly to carbon atom$(s)$ of an aliphatic system (e.g.,$CH_3OH$).
Phenols contain one or more than one $-OH$ group$(s)$ bonded directly to the $sp^2$ hybridized carbon of an aromatic system (e.g.,$C_6H_5OH$).
Applications:
Ethanol is used for polishing wooden furniture and is commonly known as ordinary spirit.
Many essential compounds like sugar,cotton in fabrics,and paper are made of compounds containing $-OH$ groups.