"polyglycolic acid", a polymer of glycolic acid; (also) a polyester fibre made from this, which is used in surgery for ligatures as it is slowly and harmlessly absorbed by the body.
Origin
1950s; earliest use found in Chemical Abstracts.
Definition of polyglycolic in US English:
polyglycolic
adjective
"polyglycolic acid", a polymer of glycolic acid; (also) a polyester fibre made from this, which is used in surgery for ligatures as it is slowly and harmlessly absorbed by the body.