Definition

Noun: A solid, crystalline triglyceride ester formed from glycerol and three molecules of stearic acid. It is a major component of many animal and vegetable fats, including tallow and some hard plant oils, and is used in the manufacture of soaps, candles, and food additives.

Usage

"Glycerol tristearate" is a specific chemical compound name used in scientific, industrial, and nutritional contexts. It is typically used as a mass noun.

Examples

• The chemical analysis confirmed the presence of glycerol tristearate in the sample.
• Glycerol tristearate is valued in the food industry for its texturizing properties.
• The soap's hardness is attributed to its high glycerol tristearate content.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in technical writing concerning lipid chemistry, biochemistry, and food science.
• It can be discussed in the context of saturated fats and their physical properties, such as melting point.

Variants and Related Words

• Tristearin: This is the common, traditional name for the same compound. "Glycerol tristearate" is the more systematic IUPAC-style name.
• Stearin: A commercial term often referring to a mixture of triglycerides rich in stearic acid, of which glycerol tristearate is a primary component.
• Triglyceride: The general class of lipids to which glycerol tristearate belongs.
• Fat: A broader, common term for triglycerides that are solid at room temperature; glycerol tristearate is a constituent of many natural fats.

Synonyms

• Tristearin
• Glyceryl tristearate (a minor variant in naming)

Notes on Meaning

This term refers exclusively to the specific chemical compound. It does not have idiomatic or figurative meanings.

Noun

1. a triglyceride of stearic acid