unsaturated fatty acid

/ˈʌnˌsætʃəˈreɪdɪd ˌfædi ˌæsəd/

Other forms: unsaturated fatty acids

Definitions of unsaturated fatty acid

1. noun

   a fatty acid whose carbon chain can absorb additional hydrogen atoms
   types:

   monounsaturated fatty acid

   an unsaturated fatty acid whose carbon chain has one double or triple valence bond per molecule; found chiefly in olive oil and chicken and almonds

   polyunsaturated fatty acid

   an unsaturated fatty acid whose carbon chain has more than one double or triple valence bond per molecule; found chiefly in fish and corn and soybean oil and safflower oil

   ricinoleic acid

   an oily fatty acid found in castor oil and used in soap

   elaeostearic acid, eleostearic acid

   a crystalline unsaturated fatty acid

   omega-3, omega-3 fatty acid

   a polyunsaturated fatty acid whose carbon chain has its first double valence bond three carbons from the beginning

   omega-6, omega-6 fatty acid

   a polyunsaturated fatty acid whose carbon chain has its first double valence bond six carbons from the beginning

   elaidic acid

   a monounsaturated fatty acid that has the same structure as oleic acid except that it is a trans fatty acid; the major trans fatty acid in margarine and fried foods

   linoleic acid, linolic acid

   a liquid polyunsaturated fatty acid abundant in plant fats and oils; a fatty acid essential for nutrition; used to make soap

   oleic acid

   a colorless oily liquid occurring as a glyceride; it is the major fatty acid in olive oil and canola oil; used in making soap and cosmetics and ointments and lubricating oils

   type of:

   fatty acid

   any of a class of aliphatic monocarboxylic acids that form part of a lipid molecule and can be derived from fat by hydrolysis; fatty acids are simple molecules built around a series of carbon atoms linked together in a chain of 12 to 22 carbon atoms