Definition of propionic acid
: a liquid sharp-odored fatty acid C3H6O2 found in milk and distillates of wood, coal, and petroleum and used especially as a mold inhibitor and flavoring agent
From the M-W Editors
Origin and Etymology of propionic acid
International Scientific Vocabulary 1pro- + Greek piōn fat; akin to Sanskrit pīvan swelling, fat
First Known Use: 1850
Medical Dictionary
propionic acid
playMedical Definition of propionic acid
: a liquid sharp-odored fatty acid C3H6O2 found in milk and distillates of wood, coal, and petroleum—called also propanoic acid
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about propionic acid
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