Definition

1. Noun:
   • A solid ester of glycerol and stearic acid: Stearin is a white, crystalline, and odorless compound that is a major component of many animal and vegetable fats.
   • The solid portion of a fat: In a broader, less technical sense, stearin can refer to the harder, more solid fraction separated from fats like tallow.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The chemist analyzed the stearin content of the palm oil sample.
  • Stearin is used in the manufacture of candles and soaps.

Advanced Usage

• Technical/Industrial Context: Stearin is a key term in chemistry, food science, and manufacturing.
  • The separation of olein from stearin is an important process in the edible oil industry.

Variants and Related Words

• Stearic acid (n): The saturated fatty acid (C₁₇H₃₅COOH) that is a component of stearin.
• Glycerol (n): The trihydric alcohol that forms the backbone of stearin and other triglycerides.

Synonyms

• Tristearin (n): The specific triglyceride form of stearin.
• Glyceryl tristearate (n): A systematic chemical name for stearin.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The primary and most precise meaning is the chemical compound (glycerol tristearate).
• The secondary meaning relating to the solid fraction of fat is more general and used in industrial processing contexts.

Noun

1. an ester of glycerol and stearic acid