monosodium glutamate
Pronunciation: /mɒnə(ʊ)ˈsəʊdɪəm/
noun
- a compound which occurs naturally as a breakdown product of proteins and is used as a flavour enhancer in food (although itself tasteless). A traditional ingredient in oriental cooking, it was originally obtained from seaweed but is now mainly made from bean and cereal protein.
- Chemical formula: HOOC(CH2)2(NH2)COONa