Stearines

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of glyceride derived from stearic acid, commonly found in fats and oils
2. Characterized by its role in the formation of soap and candles due to its solidifying properties
3. Often used in food products and cosmetics for texture enhancement and emulsification

Etymology: In ancient Greek, "stear" meant solid fat, especially the hard fat of animals such as tallow or suet. When chemists needed a name for the solid portion of fats, they borrowed that root, and "stearine" entered French from it. English adopted the term as "stearin," for the hard, waxy component that can be separated from animal and vegetable fats. "Stearines" is the plural form, used when referring to more than one such substance. Because the solid fractions harden well, they have long been used to make candles and soap, which is why the term is tied to those trades.