linolenic acid

lin·o·len·ic acid  (ln-lnk)

n.

An unsaturated fatty acid, C₁₇H₂₉COOH, considered essential to the human diet, that is an important component of natural drying oils.

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[Blend of linoleic acid and -ene.]

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linolenic acid [ˌlɪnəʊˈlɛnɪk -ˈliː-]

n

(Chemistry / Elements & Compounds) a colourless unsaturated essential fatty acid found in drying oils, such as linseed oil, and used in making paints and synthetic resins; 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid. Formula: C₁₈H₃₀O₂ Also called alpha-linolenic acid

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linolenic acid  (ln-lnk)

An unsaturated fatty acid that has three double bonds and is a nutrient essential to the formation of prostaglandins in the human body. Linolenic acid belongs to the class of omega-3 fatty acids. It is an important component of natural drying oils (such as linseed oil) and is also found in some fish oils. Chemical formula: C₁₈H₃₀O₂.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

linolenic acid - a liquid polyunsaturated fatty acid that occurs in some plant oils; an essential fatty acid soyabean oil, soybean oil - oil from soya beans omega-6, omega-6 fatty acid - a polyunsaturated fatty acid whose carbon chain has its first double valence bond six carbons from the beginning flaxseed oil, linseed oil - a drying oil extracted from flax seed and used in making such things as oil paints