stearin

noun

stea·​rin ˈstē-ə-rən How to pronounce stearin (audio) ˈstir-ən How to pronounce stearin (audio)
: an ester of glycerol and stearic acid

Word History

Etymology

French stéarine, from Greek stear

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stearin was in 1817

Dictionary Entries Near stearin

stearic acid

stearin

stearin pitch

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Stearin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stearin. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

stearin

noun
stea·​rin ˈstē-ə-rən How to pronounce stearin (audio) ˈsti(ə)r-ən How to pronounce stearin (audio)
: a chemical compound that is the chief substance in beef fat

Medical Definition

stearin

noun
stea·​rin ˈstē-ə-rən How to pronounce stearin (audio) ˈsti(ə)r-ən How to pronounce stearin (audio)
1
: an ester of glycerol and stearic acid C3H5(C18H35O2)3 that is a predominant constituent of many hard fats
2
also stearine
same or ˈstē-ə-ˌrēn, ˈsti(ə)r-ˌēn
 : the solid portion of a fat

More from Merriam-Webster on stearin

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stearin

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