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oleic acid

noun Chemistry.
  1. a colorless, odorless, liquid, water-insoluble, unsaturated acid, C18H34O2, 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.

Origin of oleic acid

First recorded in 1810–20
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for oleic acid

oleic acid

noun
  1. 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 COOHSystematic name: cis -9-octadecenoic acid

Word Origin for oleic acid

C19 oleic, from Latin oleum oil + -ic
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
oleic acid in Medicine

oleic acid

[ō-lē′ĭk]
n.
  1. An organic acid that is prepared from fats and is used in the preparation of oleates and lotions.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
oleic acid in Science

oleic acid

[ō-lē′ĭk]
  1. An oily liquid occurring in animal and vegetable oils and used in making soap. Chemical formula: C18H34O2.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.