polysorbate

Today it means: Any of a class of emulsifiers used as food additives and in pharmaceutical preparations; they are derived from sorbitan (typically with three polyoxyethylene side-chains) esterified with a fatty acid; they are mostly oily liquids, or soft solids. Full definition →

English sorbate ← Ancient Greek πολῠ́ς (polŭ́s) ← Proto-Indo-European *polh₁ús