polyunsaturated

[pol-ee-uhn-sach-uh-rey-tid] /ˌpɒl i ʌnˈsætʃ əˌreɪ tɪd/

adjective, Nutrition.

of or noting a class of animal or vegetable fats, especially plant oils, whose molecules consist of carbon chains with many double bonds unsaturated by hydrogen atoms and that are associated with a low cholesterol content of the blood.

Origin

1930-35; poly- + unsaturated

Examples from the web for polyunsaturated

That's because reptiles and fish are particularly rich in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.
He fed them diets that were either high in saturated fat, high in monounsaturated fat, or high in polyunsaturated fat.
Those fats are higher in monounsaturated fat and lower in polyunsaturated fat than their feathered white-meat friends.

British Dictionary definitions for polyunsaturated

polyunsaturated

/ˌpɒlɪʌnˈsætʃəˌreɪtɪd/

adjective

of or relating to a class of animal and vegetable fats, the molecules of which consist of long carbon chains with many double bonds. Polyunsaturated compounds are less likely to be converted into cholesterol in the body. They are widely used in margarines and in the manufacture of paints and varnishes See also monounsaturated

Word Origin and History for polyunsaturated

adj.

1921, from poly- + unsaturated.

polyunsaturated in Medicine

polyunsaturated pol·y·un·sat·u·rat·ed (pŏl'ē-ŭn-sāch'ə-rā'tĭd)
adj.
Of or relating to long-chain carbon compounds, especially fats, having many unsaturated bonds.

polyunsaturated in Science

polyunsaturated

(pŏl'ē-ŭn-sāch'ə-rā'tĭd)
Relating to an organic compound, especially a fat, in which more than one pair of carbon atoms are joined by double or triple bonds. See more at unsaturated.