maleic acid

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/məˈleɪɪk/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(mə lē′ik)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
ma•le′ic ac′id  (mə lē′ik),USA pronunciation [Chem.]
  1. Chemistrya colorless, crystalline, water-soluble solid, C4H4O4, isomeric with fumaric acid, having an astringent, repulsive taste and faint acidulous odor: used in the manufacture of synthetic resins, the dyeing and finishing of textiles, and as a preservative for fats and oils.
  • French maléique, alteration of malique malic
  • 1870–75

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
maleic acid / məˈleɪɪk/
  1. a colourless soluble crystalline substance used to synthesize other compounds. Formula: HOOCCH:CHCOOH
    Systematic name: cis-butanedioic acid
Etymology: 19th Century: from French maléique, altered form of malique; see malic acid
'maleic acid' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
alkyd - fumaric acid - maleate - maleic hydrazide

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