estere

ester (chemistry)

noun EH-steh-reh Rare

Origin: From German Essigäther (acetic ether), coined by chemist Leopold Gmelin in the 19th century.

Usage Note

Estere (pl. gli esteri) is a chemical compound formed by a reaction between an acid and an alcohol, common in fats and fragrances. Note that this is distinct from the adjective/noun estero ('foreign; abroad') — gli esteri can be ambiguous (esters OR foreign affairs), so context is essential. In the phrase Ministero degli Esteri the reference is always to foreign affairs, not chemistry.

Examples

"Gli esteri sono responsabili dei profumi floreali."

Natural Translation

Esters are responsible for floral fragrances.

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