The Collaborative International Dictionary
ricinoleic acid \ric`in*o"le*ic ac"id\, n. (Chem.) An organic acid ( C18H34O3) obtained from the castor-oil plant ( Ricinus communis, or Palma Christi) and other species of the family Euphorbiaceae; chemicaly it is d-12-hydroxyoleic acid ( CH3(CH2)5.CH(OH).CH2.CH=CH.(CH2)7COOH). Formerly called palmic acid.
Wiktionary
n. (context fatty acid English) An unsaturated fatty acid, 12-hydroxy-oleic acid, present in castor oil; used in textile finishing, ink and soap.
WordNet
n. an oily fatty acid found in castor oil and used in soap
Wikipedia
Ricinoleic acid, formally called 12-hydroxy-9-cis-octadecenoic acid is a fatty acid. It is an unsaturated omega-9 fatty acid and a hydroxy acid. It is a major component of the seed oil obtained from mature Castor plant (Ricinus communis L., Euphorbiaceae) seeds or in sclerotium of ergot (Claviceps purpurea Tul., Clavicipitaceae). About 90% of the fatty acid content in castor oil is the triglyceride formed from ricinoleic acid.
Usage examples of "ricinoleic acid".
It contains Palmitic and several other fatty acids, among which there is one - Ricinoleic acid - peculiar to itself.
The oil is decomposed by the fat-splitting ferments of the intestinal canal liberating this irritant Ricinoleic acid, to which the purgative action is considered in all probablity to be due.