Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A colorless organic acid, C4H8O2, occurring in animal milk fats and used in disinfectants, emulsifying agents, and pharmaceuticals.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun organic chemistry Either of the two isomeric carboxylic acids, normal butyric acid and isobutyric acid, with the chemical formula C3H7COOH, occurring in animal milk fat.
  • noun organic chemistry Solely the straight chain isomer of the above, normal butyric acid or n-butyric acid, CH3(CH2)2COOH, a short chain fatty acid; its glyceride is one of the principle components of the flavour of butter.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an unpleasant smelling fatty acid found especially in butter

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Greek βούτυρος meaning "butter", from which it can be isolated

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