any of a group of phospholipids that are found in many plant and animal tissues, esp egg yolk: used in making candles, cosmetics, and inks, and as an emulsifier and stabilizer in foods (E322)
Systematic name: phosphatidylcholine
Word origin
C19: from Greek lekithos egg yolk
lecithin in American English
(ˈlɛsəθɪn)
noun
any of several phosphatides found in nerve tissue, blood, milk, egg yolk, soybeans, corn, etc.: used in medicine, foods, cosmetics, etc. as a wetting, emulsifying, and penetrating agent