noun
: a liquid unsaturated fatty acid CH 3 (CH 2 ) 7 CH-CH(CH 2 ) 7 COOH that occurs in the form of glycerides in vegetable oils (as olive oil) and animal fats and oils (as depot fats), that is usually obtained commercially from inedible tallow or grease as a colorless to red or brown oil, that yields stearic acid on hydrogenation and azelaic acid and pelargonic acid on cleavage by oxidation, and that is used chiefly in making textile soaps, synthetic detergents, lubricants (as for textile fibers), sulfonated oils and cosmetics, and in compounding rubber; cis -9-octadecenoic acid — see elaidic acid , red oil