polysorbate

Noun

 * 1)  Any of a class of emulsifiers used as food additives and in pharmaceutical preparations; they are derived from sorbitan (typically with three polyoxyethylene side-chains) esterified with a fatty acid; they are mostly oily liquids, or soft solids.

Usage notes

 * Individual members of this class are identified with an arbitrary numerical suffix

Synonyms

 * - polysorbate 20
 * - polysorbate 80
 * - polysorbate 40
 * - polysorbate 60
 * - polysorbate 65
 * &trade; nn