stearic acid

noun

stea·ric acid | \ stē-ˈer-ik-

, stē-ˈa-rik-, ˈstir-ik-\

Definition of stearic acid

: a white crystalline fatty acid C₁₈H₃₆O₂ obtained by saponifying tallow or other hard fats containing stearin also : a commercial mixture of stearic and palmitic acids

Examples of stearic acid in a Sentence

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And all of the samples contained chemicals like palmitic acid and stearic acid, which suggest plant oils and waxes were also part of the mix. — Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, "Neanderthals glued their tools together," 2 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stearic acid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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16 Jul 2019

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The first known use of stearic acid was in 1830

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stearic acid

noun

stea·ric acid | \ stē-ˌar-ik-

, ˌsti(ə)r-ik-

Medical Definition of stearic acid

: a white crystalline fatty acid C₁₈H₃₆O₂ obtained by saponifying tallow or other hard fats containing stearin also : a commercial mixture of stearic and palmitic acids