carboxylic acid


noun Chemistry.

any organic acid containing one or more carboxyl groups.

Origin of carboxylic acid

First recorded in 1900–05; carboxyl + -ic

British Dictionary definitions for carboxylic acid

carboxylic acid
/ (ˌkɑːbɒkˈsɪlɪk) /

noun

any of a class of organic acids containing the carboxyl group See also fatty acid

Scientific definitions for carboxylic acid

carboxylic acid
[ kär′bŏk-sĭlĭk ]

An organic acid containing one or more carboxyl groups. Carboxylic acids often have names ending in -oic acid, such as benzoic acid. Amino acids, fatty acids, and many other important organic compounds are carboxylic acids.