The Collaborative International Dictionary
Lauric acid \Lauric acid\ (Chem.), a white, crystalline substance, CH3.(CH2)10.COOH, resembling palmitic acid, and obtained from the fruit of the bay tree, and various other vegetable sources. The sodium salt ( sodium lauryl sulfate) is used as a detergent.
Syn: dodecanoic acid, laurostearic acid, dodecoic acid.
Wiktionary
n. (context chemistry English) a fatty acid, CH3(CH2)10COOH, occurring in coconut, palm and laurel oil; mostly used in making cosmetics and soaps
WordNet
n. a crystalline fatty acid occurring as glycerides in natural fats and oils (especially coconut oil and palm-kernel oil) [syn: dodecanoic acid]
Wikipedia
Lauric acid or systematically, dodecanoic acid, is a saturated fatty acid with a 12-carbon atom chain, thus falling into the medium chain fatty acids, is a white, powdery solid with a faint odor of bay oil or soap.
Usage examples of "lauric acid".
The berries contain both fixed and volatile oils, the former, known as Oil of Bays, includes laurostearine, the ether of lauric acid.