adjective
- not saturated; having the power to dissolve still more of a substance.
- Chemistry. (of an organic compound) having a double or triple bond and capable of taking on elements or groups by direct chemical combination without the liberation of other elements or compounds, as ethylene, CH2=CH2; undersaturated.
adjective
- not saturated
- (of a chemical compound, esp an organic compound) containing one or more double or triple bonds and thus capable of undergoing addition reactions
- (of a fat, esp a vegetable fat) containing a high proportion of fatty acids having double bonds
- (of a solution) containing less solute than a saturated solution
adj.1756, from un- (1) “not” + past participle of saturate (v.). adj.
- Of or relating to a solution in which the solvent is capable of dissolving still more of the solute; not saturated.
- Of or relating to a chemical compound in which all the affinities are not satisfied, so that still other atoms or radicals may be added to it.
- Of or relating to chemical compounds containing double and triple bonds.
- Relating to an organic compound in which two or more of the carbon atoms are joined by a double or triple bond and therefore can be combined with additional atoms or radicals. Benzene and acetylene are examples of unsaturated compounds. Compare saturated See also monounsaturated polyunsaturated.
- Relating to a solution that is capable of dissolving more solute than it already contains.