stearic

[ stee-ar-ik, steer-ik ]

/ stiˈær ɪk, ˈstɪər ɪk /

adjective

of or relating to suet or fat.

of or derived from stearic acid.

Nearby words

steamtight, steamy, steapsin, stear-, stearate, stearic, stearic acid, stearin, stearns alcoholic amentia, stearo-, stearoptene

Origin of stearic

First recorded in 1825–35; stear- + -ic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for stearic

Prepared from palmitin (see next article), by saponification, as stearic acid is prepared from stearin.
Cooley's Practical Receipts, Volume II|Arnold Cooley
Ordinary fats consist principally of derivatives of palmitic and stearic acids.
An Elementary Study of Chemistry|William McPherson
The acids separated from it are known by the names of margaric, stearic, and oleic acids.
Elements of Agricultural Chemistry|Thomas Anderson
The titer of a fat or oil is really an indication of the amount of stearic acid contained therein.
Soap-Making Manual|E. G. Thomssen

Stearine, a constituent of tallow, is a compound of glyceryl and stearic acid.
Artificial Light|M. Luckiesh

British Dictionary definitions for stearic

stearic

/ (stɪˈærɪk) /

adjective

of or relating to suet or fat

of, consisting of, containing, or derived from stearic acid

Word Origin for stearic

C19: from French stéarique, from Greek stear fat, tallow

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012