Margaric

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Containing or resembling margarine ; of, derived from, or relating to margaric acid, a saturated fatty acid
2. Made with or composed of margarine ; pertaining to margaric acid or its properties and derivatives
3. Containing margarine-like components ; associated with margaric acid, a long-chain saturated fatty compound

Etymology: Margaric describes margaric acid, a fatty acid, and its name comes from Ancient Greek "márgaron," meaning pearl. The Greek word reached modern chemistry through French, where "margarique" was formed for the acid, and English took the adjective from that French form. A name meaning pearl ended up on a fatty acid that occurs in small amounts in some natural fats, so a word for a gem now labels a simple chain of carbon atoms.