What is "abietic acid"

n. (context organic compound English) A yellowish resin acid isolated from rosin and used in varnishes and esters for plasticizers; C₁₉H₂₉COOH

Abietic acid (also known as abietinic acid or sylvic acid) is an organic compound that occurs widely in trees. It is the primary component of resin acid, is the primary irritant in pine wood and resin, isolated from rosin (via isomerization) and is the most abundant of several closely related organic acids that constitute most of rosin, the solid portion of the oleoresin of coniferous trees. Its ester or salt is called an abietate.