glycolic acid

American  

Or glycollic acid

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.

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glycolic acid British  

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

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glycolic acid Scientific  

/ 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 .

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Etymology

Origin of glycolic acid

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

The tingle of glycolic acid, the pain of extractions, the warm towels heating my skin.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025

If so, he recommended using products with glycolic acid, a gentle chemical exfoliant, to boost skin-cell turnover without drying out your skin.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 18, 2023

It is so named because glycolic acid is one of a group of alpha hydroxy acids.

From BBC • Jun. 28, 2020

Other ingredients to look for are salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and urea.

From Washington Post • Jan. 31, 2020

“Masks can be concentrated, and if you’re using a mask with a strong ingredient like glycolic acid, make sure you know what the concentration is,” he said.

From New York Times • Aug. 22, 2016