aliphatic

adjective

al·​i·​phat·​ic ˌa-lə-ˈfa-tik 

: of, relating to, or being an organic compound (such as an alkane) having an open-chain structure compare alicyclic, aromatic sense 2

Examples of aliphatic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Garlic contains aliphatic sulfites, like an onion does. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 18 Oct. 2022

Some of them are organic — aliphatic and aromatic compounds, carboxylic acids, alcohols. —Sarah Scoles, Discover Magazine, 22 Jan. 2015

Hide glue creates joints weaker than wood, which may seem like a disadvantage compared with the stronger-than-wood joints made with yellow, or aliphatic, glue, which is more common in woodworking shops these days. —Washington Post, 21 Dec. 2020

On earth, propane and butane are examples of aliphatic carbon compounds. —Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 28 June 2018

One is a bond that resembles a mothball, called aromatic carbon, while the other resembles grease and is called aliphatic. —David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 28 June 2018

The result of this careful analysis is that scientists have conclusively found thiophenic, aromatic, and aliphatic organic compounds on Mars. —Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 7 June 2018

The signature Dawn spotted appears to be one of aliphatic organic matter— —Erin Blakemore, Smithsonian, 17 Feb. 2017

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German aliphatisch, from Greek aleiphat-, áleiphar "oil, unguent, fat" (derivative of aleíphein "to anoint, rub with oil, smear," of uncertain origin) + German -isch -ish

Note: The term was apparently introduced by the German chemist August Wilhelm Hofmann (1818-92) no later than 1879, though the place of its first publication could not be found. — Traditionally Greek aleíphein has been linked to lípos "fat, oil," though the initial laryngeal and aspirate stop that must be assumed for aleíphein do not make lípos directly comparable.

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

aliphatic

adjective

al·​i·​phat·​ic ˌal-ə-ˈfat-ik 

: of, relating to, or being an organic compound (as an alkane or alkene) having an open-chain structure compare alicyclic, aromatic entry 1 sense 2