butyric acid

noun

Either of the two isomeric carboxylic acids, normal butyric acid and isobutyric acid, with the chemical formula C₃H₇COOH, occurring in animal milk fat.

Similar
butanoic acid
OriginAncient Greek βούτυρος →
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Meanings

nounbutyric acid (plural butyric acids)

plural butyric acids

  1. chemistryEither of the two isomeric carboxylic acids, normal butyric acid and isobutyric acid, with the chemical formula C₃H₇COOH, occurring in animal milk fat.
  2. chemistrySolely the straight chain isomer of the above, normal butyric acid or n-butyric acid, CH₃(CH₂)₂COOH, a short chain fatty acid; its glyceride is one of the principal components of the flavour of butter.

Synonyms & antonyms

Similar
butanoic acid

nounan unpleasant smelling fatty acid found especially in butter

Similar
butanoic acid
Broader
saturated fatty acid
Also see
butanoic acid

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekβούτυρος“butter”
  2. Englishbutyric acid

From Ancient Greek βούτυρος (boúturos, “butter”), from which it can be isolated.

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian ма́слена киселина́, бута́нова киселина́
  • ма́слена киселина́ (máslena kiseliná)either of the two isomeric forms
  • бута́нова киселина́ (butánova kiseliná)either of the two isomeric forms
  • ма́слена киселина́ (máslena kiseliná)normal butyric acid
Czech kyselina máselná
  • kyselina máselnánormal butyric acid
Finnish voihappo, butaanihappo
  • voihapponormal butyric acid
  • butaanihapponormal butyric acid
French acide butyrique
  • acide butyriquenormal butyric acid
German Buttersäure
  • Buttersäurenormal butyric acid
Greek βουτυρικό οξύ
  • βουτυρικό οξύ (voutyrikó oxý)normal butyric acid
Hungarian vajsav
  • vajsavnormal butyric acid
Italian acido butirrico
  • acido butirriconormal butyric acid
Japanese 酪酸
  • 酪酸 (rakusan)normal butyric acid
Latvian sviestskābe
  • sviestskābenormal butyric acid
Persian بوتیریک اسید
  • بوتیریک اسید (butirik asid)normal butyric acid
Polish kwas masłowy, kwas masłowy
  • kwas masłowyeither of the two isomeric forms
  • kwas masłowynormal butyric acid
Romanian acid butiric
  • acid butiricnormal butyric acid
Russian ма́сляная кислота́
  • ма́сляная кислота́ (másljanaja kislotá)normal butyric acid
Swedish smörsyra, butansyra
  • smörsyranormal butyric acid
  • butansyranormal butyric acid
Ukrainian ма́сляна кислота́
  • ма́сляна кислота́ (másljana kyslotá)normal butyric acid
Cite this entry
APA

butyric acid. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/butyric%20acid

MLA

“butyric acid.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/butyric%20acid. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “butyric acid,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/butyric%20acid.

Source: butyric acid on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.