arachidonic acid

[ ar-uh-ki-don-ik, ar- ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. an essential fatty acid, C 20 H 32 O 2 , found in the lipids of most tissues, that is a precursor in the synthesis of prostaglandins, prostacyclins, and related effectors.

arachidonic acid

/ ˌærəkəˈdɒnɪk /

noun

1. a fatty acid occurring in animal cells: the metabolic precursor of several groups of biologically active substances, including prostaglandins

Word History and Origins

Origin of arachidonic acid¹

First recorded in 1910–15; arachid(ic) + -onic

Example Sentences

“Red meat contains arachidonic acid that can cause or worsen internal inflammatory reactions,” Lewis explains.

From The Daily Beast