ester
/ˈɛstɚ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.06 in modern English
5
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A compound most often formed by the condensation of an alcohol and an acid, with elimination of water, which contains the functional group carbon-oxygen double bond (i.e., carbonyl) joined via carbon to another oxygen atom.
name
A female given name from Hebrew, alternative form of Esther.
Example Sentences
- "To produce a test material containing at least 75 percent omega-3 polyunsaturates, the menhaden triglycerides are transesterified to produce fatty acid ethyl esters. The esters are reacted with urea dissolved in hot ethanol and the solution is cooled overnight."
- "The thiol-coenzyme-A ester formed by R-arylpropionic acid can bind to triglyceride to form a “hybrid” triglyceride: such hybrid triglycerides can cause alteration of fatty-acid metabolism and membrane function, and a lipophilic triglyceride–propionic-acid hybrid would be able to cross lipid membranes such as the blood–brain barrier."
- "The effort’s primary material systems are vinyl esters and polyurethanes, reinforced with inexpensive chopped-glass rovings. Automated glass-fiber preforming processes and high-rate molding procedures are being studied in an effort to reduce cycle times and production costs substantially."
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁ti Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁yeti Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱéh₁yeti Proto-Italic *akēō Latin aceō Proto-Indo-European *-sḱéti Proto-Italic *-skō Latin -scō Latin acēscō Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Italic *-tos Latin -tus Latin acētumbor. Proto-West Germanic *aket Proto-West Germanic *atek Old High German eȥȥih Middle High German eȥȥich German Essich German Essig Proto-Indo-European *h₂eydʰ-der. Proto-Hellenic *áitʰō Ancient Greek αἴθω (aíthō) ▲ Ancient Greek ᾱ̓ήρ (āḗr)influ.? Ancient Greek αἰθήρ (aithḗr)der. Latin aethērbor. German Äther blend? German Esterbor. English ester Borrowed from German Ester, possibly a blend of Essig + Äther. See ether for more.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈɛstɚ/
- British English: /ˈɛstə/
Subject
Wiktionary places this term in People.