/al jin"ik/ , Chem.
an insoluble, colloidal acid, (C 6 H 8 O 6 ) n , found in the cell walls of various kelps, esp. brown kelps, known chiefly in the form of its salts, and used as a thickening or stabilizing agent in foodstuffs, esp. ice cream, and for sizing paper.
[ 1885-90; ALGIN + -IC ]