Meanings
plural lecithins
- countableuncountablechemistryThe principal phospholipid in animals; it is particularly abundant in egg yolks, and is extracted commercially from soy. It is a major constituent of cell membranes, and is commonly used as a food additive (as an emulsifier).
Synonyms: phosphatidylcholine, E322 when used as an emulsifier
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe principal phospholipid in animals; it is particularly abundant in egg yolks, and is extracted commercially from soy. It is a major constituent of cell membranes, and is commonly used as a food additive (as an emulsifier).
Origin
- Ancient Greekλέκιθος“egg yolk”
- Frenchlécithine
- Englishlecithin
From French lécithine, coined in 1847 by Theodore Gobley, from Ancient Greek λέκιθος (lékithos, “egg yolk”).
More words from French, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Catalan lecitina
- lecitinalecithin
Chinese Mandarin 卵磷脂
- 卵磷脂 (luǎnlínzhī)lecithin
Czech lecitin
- lecitinlecithin
Dutch lecithine
- lecithinelecithin
Estonian letsitiin
- letsitiinlecithin
Finnish lesitiini
- lesitiinilecithin
German Lecithin
- Lecithinlecithin
Greek λεκιθίνη
- λεκιθίνη (lekithíni)lecithin
Hindi अंडपीति
- अंडपीति (aṇḍpīti)lecithin
Icelandic lesitín
- lesitínlecithin
Irish leicitin
- leicitinlecithin
Italian lecitina
- lecitinalecithin
Korean 레시틴
- 레시틴 (resitin)lecithin
Polish lecytyna
- lecytynalecithin
Russian лецити́н
- лецити́н (lecitín)lecithin
Spanish lecitina
- lecitinalecithin
Turkish lesitin
- lesitinlecithin
Welsh lesithin
- lesithinlecithin
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with lecithin
All rhymes →Cite this entry
lecithin. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lecithin
“lecithin.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lecithin. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lecithin,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lecithin.
Source: lecithin on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.