What does stearin mean?
Stearin is a white, waxy material derived from fats and used in products such as soap, candles, and cosmetics. Chemically, the name most commonly refers to glyceryl tristearate, the compound formed when glycerol combines with stearic acid. Because it melts evenly and burns with a bright, relatively clean flame, stearin has long been useful in candle making, although many modern candles use paraffin wax or mixtures based on it. In soaps, it contributes hardness and helps produce a creamy lather. The word can also be used more broadly for solid fatty substances obtained from animal fats or vegetable oils. Its technical meaning is the more precise one, while broader household and historical uses tend to treat it as a familiar name for firm, tallow-like wax.
nounA whitish, waxy solid consisting chiefly of glyceryl tristearate, obtained from fats such as tallow and used in making soap, candles, and cosmetics. The term also refers more broadly to solid fats of this kind.
- The solid, waxy glyceryl ester of stearic acid, especially glyceryl tristearate, used in soap, candles, and cosmetics.
- More broadly, a solid fatty substance obtained from animal or vegetable fats.
"The candles are made from stearin, which burns slowly and produces a bright flame."
"The factory mixes stearin with other waxes to produce candle blanks."
"Stearin gives the soap a firm texture and helps it lather."
The plural is possible but uncommon; stearin is normally used as a mass noun.
"The manufacturer tested several stearins with different melting points."
Stearin helped make the modern candle: it melts smoothly, burns cleanly, and leaves little soot.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stearin come from?
Stearin was formed in the 19th century from the Greek stear, meaning fat or tallow, combined with the chemical suffix -in. The name reflects the substance's fatty, waxy character. Its relatives include stearic and stearate, both of which refer to compounds connected with stearic acid.
How stearin is actually used
Stearin is primarily a technical or historical term. In chemistry, it usually denotes glyceryl tristearate, while broader nontechnical usages may include other solid fats.