lanolin /lan·o·lin/ (lan´ah-lin) a purified, waxlike substance from the wool of sheep, Ovis aries, occurring in an anhydrous form and also a form containing 25 to 30 percent water; used as a water-in-oil ointment or cream base. Modified l. has been additionally processed to reduce the amount of free lanolin alcohols and detergent and pesticide residues.
lanolin
lan·o·lin (l n  -l n)n. A fatty substance obtained from wool and used in soaps, cosmetics, and ointments. |
lanolin
[lan′əlin]
Etymology: L, lana, wool, oleum, oil
a fatlike substance from the wool of sheep. It contains about 25% water as a water-in-oil emulsion and is used as an ointment base and an emollient for the skin. Also called hydrous wool fat.
lanolin
wool fat or wool grease that is refined and incorporated into many commercial preparations. Lanolin is a by-product of the process that accompanies the removal of sheeps' wool from the pelt. In its crude form it is a greasy yellow wax of unpleasant odor which disappears when the lanolin is emulsified and made into salves, creams, ointments and cosmetics. Although lanolin is slightly antiseptic, it has no other medicinal benefits and is valuable principally because of the ease with which it penetrates the skin, and because it does not become rancid.
lanolin bush
zieriasmithii.
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