Skip to main content
butyrin

butyrin

9.9
A fat in butter made from glycerol and butyric acid
  • noun
  • /bjuˈtɪrɪn/
  • Specialized
: butirina
  • The main fat in butter is butyrin, which is a triglyceride of butyric acid.

Examples

  • When butyrin is hydrolyzed, it releases butyric acid and glycerol.

  • Chemists study butyrin to understand the properties of dairy fats.

  • The butyrin in butter gives it a rich flavor.

  • Many dairy products contain butyrin as a key component.

  • Chemists study butyrin to understand its role in the flavor profile of butter.

  • The main fat in butter is butyrin, which contributes to its creamy texture.

  • When butyrin is broken down, it produces butyric acid, adding a distinct taste.

Synonyms

tributyrin
vsbutyrin
  • Specialized
9.9

A bitter oily fat in butter used in labs to test enzymes that break down fats

is the broader natural butter triglyceride rather than a lab substrate

Surface Forms

butyrin singular
butyrins plural

Morphology

butyrin = butter (semi-transparent) = butyr + in

The form is built from the combining form 'butyr-' (relating historically to butter) plus the chemical suffix '-in'; the relation to 'butter' is real but the combining form and chemical naming are specialized and not obvious to average learners.

Etymology

The word butyrin comes from the root butyr-, which means 'butter', so it was named for the fat found in butter, and the ending -in is a common chemical ending that marks it as a substance.