lanolin

[ lan-l-in ]
See synonyms for lanolin on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a fatty substance, extracted from wool, used in ointments, cosmetics, waterproof coatings, etc.

Origin of lanolin

1
1880–85; <Latin lān(a) wool + -ol2 + -in2
  • Also lan·o·line [lan-l-in, -l-een]. /ˈlæn l ɪn, -lˌin/.

Other words from lanolin

  • lan·o·lat·ed [lan-l-ey-tid], /ˈlæn lˌeɪ tɪd/, adjective

Words Nearby lanolin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use lanolin in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for lanolin

lanolin

lanoline (ˈlænəlɪn, -ˌliːn)

/ (ˈlænəlɪn) /


noun
  1. a yellowish viscous substance extracted from wool, consisting of a mixture of esters of fatty acids: used in some ointments: Also called: wool fat

Origin of lanolin

1
C19: via German from Latin lāna wool + oleum oil; see -in

Derived forms of lanolin

  • lanolated (ˈlænəˌleɪtɪd), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for lanolin

lanolin

[ lănə-lĭn ]


  1. A yellowish-white wax secreted by the sebaceous glands of sheep to coat wool. Lanolin is composed of esters and polyesters of almost seventy alcohols and fatty acids. Since it is easily absorbed by the skin, it is used in soaps, cosmetics, and ointments.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.