Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun An unsaturated fatty acid, C20H32O2, found in animal fats, that is essential in human nutrition and is a precursor in the biosynthesis of some prostaglandins.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun organic chemistry A
long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid , having 20carbon atoms and fourdouble bonds , found inanimal fats ; it isessential forhuman nutrition , being aprecursor to the production ofprostaglandins .
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
[From arachidic, of the groundnut, from New Latin Arachis, groundnut genus, from Greek arakis, arakid-, diminutive of arakos, a leguminous plant.]
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