Pronunciation: ī - ' k ō -s ə - ˌ no ̇ id
Function: noun
Etymology: eicosa- containing 20 atoms (fr. Greek eikosa- twenty, from eikosi ) + -n oic, suffix used in names of fatty acids (fr. -a noun e + -oic ) + 1 -oid ― more at VIGESIMAL
Date: 1980
: any of a class of compounds (as the prostaglandins) derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids (as arachidonic acid) and involved in cellular activity