a colourless unsaturated essential fatty acid found in drying oils, such as linseed oil, and used in making paints and synthetic resins; 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid. Formula: C18H30O2
Also called: alpha-linolenic acid
linolenic acid in American English
(ˌlɪnoʊˈlinɪk; ˌlɪnoʊˈlɛnɪk)
an unsaturated fatty acid, C17H29COOH, found as a glyceryl ester in fats and oils: used in drying oils, varnishes, resins, paints, etc. and considered essential in animal diets