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.
Also called
octadecanoic acid.
Origin of stearic acid
First recorded in 1825–35
Words nearby stearic acid
steamy,
steapsin,
stear-,
stearate,
stearic,
stearic acid,
stearin,
stearns alcoholic amentia,
stearo-,
stearoptene,
steatite
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 COOH
See also stearin (def. 2)
Medical 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.
Scientific 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.