noun
or gly·col·lic acid (ˈ)glī|kälik-
Etymology: glycolic, glycollic International Scientific Vocabulary glycol + -ic
: a translucent crystalline compound HOCH 2 COOH found especially in unripe grapes and in sugar beets, made usually by hydrolysis of chloroacetic acid or as an intermediate in the manufacture of ethylene glycol, and used chiefly in processing textiles and leather and in cleaning metals