*oleic*

a. (Physiol. Chem.) Pertaining to, or obtained from, bile; as, choleic acid. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. 'eryqro`s red + L. oleum oil. ] (Chem.) Having a red color and oily appearance; -- applied to a purple semifluid substance said to be obtained from archil. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to, or derived from, linoleum, or linseed oil; specifically (Chem.), designating an organic acid, a thin yellow oil, found combined as a salt of glycerin in oils of linseed, poppy, hemp, and certain nuts. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. oleum oil: cf. F. oléique. ] (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. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, a fatty acid analogous to oleic acid, obtained from castor oil as an oily substance, C18H34O3 with a harsh taste. Formerly written ricinolic and formerly referred to as palmic. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. (Chem.) An organic acid (C18H34O3) obtained from the castor-oil plant (Ricinus communis, or Palma Christi) and other species of the family Euphorbiaceae; chemicaly it is d-12-hydroxyoleic acid (CH3(CH2)5.CH(OH).CH2.CH=CH.(CH2)7COOH). Formerly called palmic acid. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]