es·ter

(ĕs′tər)

Any of a class of compounds derived from an oxyacid, usually resulting from the reaction of an oxyacid and an alcohol with the elimination of water.

[German, short for Essigäther : Essig, vinegar (from Middle High German ezzich, from Old High German ezzīh, from Latin acētum; see ak- in Indo-European roots) + Äther, ether (from Latin aethēr; see ether).]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ester

(ˈɛstə)

(Chemistry) chem any of a class of compounds produced by reaction between acids and alcohols with the elimination of water. Esters with low molecular weights, such as ethyl acetate, are usually volatile fragrant liquids; fats are solid esters

[C19: from German, probably a contraction of Essigäther acetic ether, from Essig vinegar (ultimately from Latin acētum) + Äther ether]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

es•ter

(ˈɛs tər)

n.

a chemical compound produced by the reaction between an acid and an alcohol with the elimination of a molecule of water, as ethyl acetate, C₄H₈O₂, or methyl methacrylate, C₅H₈O₂.

[1850–55; < German (1848), probably b. Essig vinegar and Ӓther ether]

es·ter

(ĕs′tər)

An organic compound formed when an acid and an alcohol combine and release water. Animal and vegetable fats and oils are esters.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ester

An organic compound formed from an alcohol and an organic acid.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

ester - formed by reaction between an acid and an alcohol with elimination of water

citrate - a salt or ester of citric acid

lactate - a salt or ester of lactic acid

organic compound - any compound of carbon and another element or a radical

banana oil - a liquid ester derived from amyl alcohol; has the odor of bananas

cellulose ester - any ester of cellulose with an acid

cyclohexanol phthalate - the cyclohexanol ester of phthalic acid

ethyl acetate - a fragrant colorless flammable volatile liquid ester made from ethanol and acetic acid; used in flavorings and perfumes and as a solvent for plastics

glyceryl ester - an ester of glycerol

maleate - a salt or ester of maleic acid; used as a nontricyclic antidepressant drug for psychomotor activation

nucleotide, base - a phosphoric ester of a nucleoside; the basic structural unit of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA)

polyester - a complex ester used for making fibers or resins or plastics or as a plasticizer

urethane - an ester of carbamic acid

Translations

Ester

éster

ester

esteri

ester

estere

ester

ester

[ˈestəʳ] N (Chem) → éster m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

ester

n (Chem) → Ester m

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

ester

[ˈɛstəʳ] n → estere m

es·ter

n. éster, compuesto formado por la combinación de un ácido órganico con alcohol.