O"le*ic (?), a. [L. oleum oil: cf. F. ol'eique.] Physiol.Chem.
Pertaining to, derived from, or contained in, oil; as, oleic acid, an acid of the acrylic acid series found combined with glyceryl in the form of olein in certain animal and vegetable fats and oils, such as sperm oil, olive oil, etc. At low temperatures the acid is crystalline, but melts to an oily liquid above 14 C.
© Webster 1913.