adj.
Of, relating to, or designating a group of organic chemical compounds in which the carbon atoms are linked in open chains.
[From Greek aleiphar, aleiphat-, oil, from aleiphein, to anoint with oil.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
