oleic acid

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless, odorless, liquid, water-insoluble, unsaturated acid, C 1 8 H 3 4 O 2 , obtained from animal tallow and natural vegetable oils, in which it occurs as the glycerol ester: used chiefly in the manufacture of soap, commercial oleates, and cosmetics.

oleic acid

/ əʊˈliːɪk /

noun

1. Systematic name: cis-9-octadecenoic acid. a colourless oily liquid unsaturated acid occurring, as the glyceride, in almost all natural fats used in making soaps, ointments, cosmetics, and lubricating oils. Formula: CH 3 (CH 2 ) 7 CH:CH(CH 2 ) 7 COOH

oleic acid

1. An oily liquid occurring in animal and vegetable oils and used in making soap. Chemical formula: C ₁₈ H ₃₄ O ₂ .

Word History and Origins

Origin of oleic acid¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Word History and Origins

Origin of oleic acid¹

C19 oleic, from Latin oleum oil + _-ic