a process by which fatty acids are degraded, involving oxidation of the beta carbons and removal of successive two-carbon fragments from the fatty acid.
Main Entry: be·ta–ox·i·da·tion Pronunciation: 'bAt-&-"äk-s&-'dA-sh&n, chiefly Brit 'bE-t&- Function:noun : stepwise catabolism of fatty acids in which two-carbon fragments are successively removed from the carboxyl end of the chain
[bey-tuh-ok-si-dey-shuh
n or, especially Brit., bee-] 