a white, crystalline solid, CHCH:CHCH:CHCOOH, isolated from the berries of mountain ash or made synthetically: used in drying oils, and as a food preservative, fungicide, etc.
Origin:
sorb + -ic
See sorbic acid in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
A white crystalline solid, C6H8O2, found in the berries of the mountain ash or prepared synthetically and used as a food preservative and fungicide.