Definition of "butyrin" []

• Any of three isomeric glyceryl esters of butyric acid, naturally present in butter. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "The flavor of the fat is due to the presence of a small amount of butyrin, which is an ethereal salt of butyric acid."
• "This fat is churned up with milk, or a small amount of butter is added, in order to furnish sufficient butyrin to impart the butter flavor."
• "Oleomargarine differs from butter mainly in the fact that a smaller amount of butyrin is present."