What is "unsaturated"

Unsaturated \Un*sat"u*ra`ted\, a.

1. Capable of absorbing or dissolving to a greater degree; as, an unsaturated solution.

2. (Chem.) Capable of taking up, or of uniting with, certain other elements or compounds, without the elimination of any side product; thus, aldehyde, ethylene, and ammonia are unsaturated; benzene has three unsaturated bonds. The term is applied most commonly to compounds with a double or triple bond between two carbon atoms (as in ethylene).

1756, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of saturate (v.).

a. 1 (context chemistry of a solution English) Not saturated; capable of dissolving more of a solute at the same temperature. 2 (context chemistry English) Of a compound containing atoms sharing more than one valence bond, especially of an organic compound having one or more double bonds or triple bonds between carbon atoms. 3 (context of a colour English) Not chromatically pure; diluted.

1. adj. not saturated; capable of dissolving more of a substance at a given temperature; "an unsaturated salt solution" [ant: saturated]

2. used of a compound (especially of carbon) containing atoms sharing more than one valence bond; "unsaturated fats" [ant: saturated]

3. (of color) not chromatically pure; diluted; "an unsaturated red" [ant: saturated]