Adjacent Words

aliphatic definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: having carbon atoms linked in open chains

Merriam Webster's

adjective Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary, from Greek aleiphat-, aleiphar oil, from aleiphein to smear; perhaps akin to Greek lipos fat — more at leave Date: 1889 of, relating to, or being an organic compound (as an alkane) having an open-chain structure — compare alicyclic, aromatic 2

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. Chem. of, denoting, or relating to organic compounds in which carbon atoms form open chains, not aromatic rings. Etymology: Gk aleiphar -atos fat

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Aliphatic Al`i*phat"ic, a. [Gr. ?, ?, oil, fat.] (Org. Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or derived from, fat; fatty; -- applied to compounds having an openc-hain structure. The aliphatic compounds thus include not only the fatty acids and other derivatives of the paraffin hydrocarbons, but also unsaturated compounds, as the ethylene and acetylene series.