squalene

S1Q10U1A1L1E1N1E1
/ˈskweɪliːn//ˈskwɑːliːn/

noun

A linear triterpene hydrocarbon found in shark liver oil and in human sebum; it plays a role in the biosynthesis of steroids.

OriginLatin squālus →
UncommonScrabble 17
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Meanings

nounsqualene (countable and uncountable, plural squalenes)

plural squalenes

  1. countableuncountablechemistryA linear triterpene hydrocarbon found in shark liver oil and in human sebum; it plays a role in the biosynthesis of steroids.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
spinacene

Origin

  1. Latinsquālus“shark”
  2. Englishsqualene

From Latin squālus (“shark”) + -ene, because it is found in shark liver.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan esqualè
  • esqualètriterpene hydrocarbon
Chinese Mandarin 鯊烯 /鲨烯, 角鯊烯 /角鲨烯
  • 鯊烯 /鲨烯 (shāxī)triterpene hydrocarbon
  • 角鯊烯 /角鲨烯 (jiǎoshāxī)triterpene hydrocarbon
Dutch squaleen
  • squaleentriterpene hydrocarbon
Finnish skvaleeni
  • skvaleenitriterpene hydrocarbon
French squalène
  • squalènetriterpene hydrocarbon
German Squalen
  • Squalentriterpene hydrocarbon
Italian squalene
  • squalenetriterpene hydrocarbon
Japanese スクアレン
  • スクアレン (sukuaren)triterpene hydrocarbon
Persian اسکوآلن
  • اسکوآلنtriterpene hydrocarbon
Spanish esqualene
  • esqualenetriterpene hydrocarbon
Swedish skvalen
  • skvalentriterpene hydrocarbon

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with squalene

pralinescalene
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

squalene. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/squalene

MLA

“squalene.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/squalene. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “squalene,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/squalene.

Source: squalene on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.