open-chain

2 definitions found

open-chain - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  open-chain \open-chain\ adj. (Chemistry)
     not cyclic; having no rings of atoms within the molecular
     structure; having an open chain structure. Opposite of
     cyclic. [Narrower terms: aliphatic ]  Syn: acyclic.   [WordNet 1.5] From WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) [wn]:  open-chain adj 1: having an open chain structure [syn: {acyclic
                      , open-  chain
             ] [ant: cyclic]