stearic acid
noun Chemistry.
a colorless, waxlike, sparingly water-soluble, odorless solid, C18H36O2, the most common fatty acid, occurring as the glyceride in tallow and other animal fats and in some animal oils: used chiefly in the manufacture of soaps, stearates, candles, cosmetics, and in medicine in suppositories and pill coatings.
Nearby words
steamy, steapsin, stear-, stearate, stearic, stearic acid, stearin, stearine, stearns alcoholic amentia, stearo-, stearoptene
Origin of stearic acid
First recorded in 1825–35
Also called octadecanoic acid.
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British Dictionary definitions for stearic acid
stearic acid
noun
a colourless odourless insoluble waxy carboxylic acid used for making candles and suppositories; octadecanoic acid. Formula: CH 3 (CH 2) 16 COOHSee also stearin (def. 2)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Medicine definitions for stearic acid
stearic acid
[ stē-ăr′ĭk, stîr′ĭk ]
n.
A colorless, odorless, waxlike fatty acid occurring naturally in animal and vegetable fats and used in pharmaceutical preparations, ointments, soaps, and suppositories.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for stearic acid
stearic acid
[ stē-ăr′ĭk, stîr′ĭk ]
A colorless, odorless, waxlike fatty acid occurring in animal and vegetable fats and used in making soaps, candles, lubricants, and other products. Chemical formula: C18H36O2.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.