unsaturated

American  

[uhn-sach-uh-rey-tid] / ʌnˈsætʃ əˌreɪ tɪd /

adjective

1. not saturated; saturated; having the power to dissolve still more of a substance.

2. Chemistry. (of an organic compound) having a double or triple bond and capable of taking on elements or groups by direct chemical combination without the liberation of other elements or compounds, as ethylene, CH 2 =CH 2 ; undersaturated.

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unsaturated British  

/ ʌnˈsætʃəˌreɪtɪd /

adjective

1. not saturated

2. (of a chemical compound, esp an organic compound) containing one or more double or triple bonds and thus capable of undergoing addition reactions

3. (of a fat, esp a vegetable fat) containing a high proportion of fatty acids having double bonds

4. (of a solution) containing less solute than a saturated solution

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unsaturated Scientific  

/ ŭn-săch′ə-rā′tĭd /

1. Relating to an organic compound in which two or more of the carbon atoms are joined by a double or triple bond and therefore can be combined with additional atoms or radicals. Benzene and acetylene are examples of unsaturated compounds.

2. Compare saturated See also monounsaturated polyunsaturated

3. Relating to a solution that is capable of dissolving more solute than it already contains.

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Other Word Forms

• unsaturate noun
• unsaturation noun

Etymology

Origin of unsaturated

First recorded in 1750–60; un- ¹ + saturated