glycolic acid

or glycollic acid

noun

1. a colorless, crystalline, water-soluble powder, C 2 H 4 O 3 , that is a major substrate for photorespiration in plants: used chiefly for textile printing and dyeing and in pesticides.

glycolic acid

noun

1. a colourless crystalline soluble hygroscopic compound found in sugar cane and sugar beet: used in tanning and in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, adhesives, and plasticizers; hydroxyacetic acid. Formula: CH 2 (OH)COOH

glycolic acid

/ glī-kŏl′ĭk /

1. A colorless crystalline compound that occurs naturally in sugar beets and sugarcane. It is used in leather dyeing and tanning, and in making pharmaceuticals, pesticides, adhesives, and plasticizers. Chemical formula: C 2 H 4 O 3 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of glycolic acid¹

First recorded in 1850–55