(|)sək|sinik noun
Etymology: French succinique, from succin- + -ique
: a crystalline dicarboxylic acid HOOCCH 2 CH 2 COOH that occurs widely both free and combined (as in amber, lignite, turpentine oils, and animal fluids), that is formed in the Krebs cycle and in various fermentation processes, that is usually made by hydrogenation of maleic acid or fumaric acid, and that is used chiefly as an intermediate (as for pharmaceuticals and synthetic resins); butane-dioic acid — compare malic acid