What does stearine mean?
Stearine is a pale, waxy solid fat associated especially with the traditional manufacture of candles. It was obtained from tallow and related animal fats and valued for burning cleanly and producing a steady flame, making it an important refinement over less refined fats during the period of oil and gas lighting. Stearine was also used in soap, polishes, and certain lubricating preparations. In modern chemistry, the name can refer to a glyceryl ester of stearic acid, especially glyceryl tristearate, although contemporary usage often favors more specific chemical names. Outside historical, industrial, or technical writing, the word is uncommon. It nevertheless provides a useful example of how a once-familiar material has faded from everyday vocabulary while remaining important in the history of lighting and manufacturing.
A solid, waxy fatty substance obtained chiefly from tallow and other animal fats, formerly used in making candles, soap, and polishes; in chemistry, a glyceryl ester of stearic acid.
"The factory melted stearine and shaped it into candles."
Chiefly historical, industrial, or specialized in modern English.
To smear, grease, or lubricate with stearine.
"He stearined the movable parts of the mechanism to reduce friction."
Rare and now chiefly found in older technical or industrial contexts.
The plural is rare and occurs chiefly in technical, historical, or industrial contexts.
"The chemist compared samples of several commercial stearines."
Before modern electric lighting, stearine helped candles burn with a cleaner, steadier flame than ordinary tallow.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stearine come from?
Stearine was formed in the early 19th century from the Greek stear, meaning wax or fat, together with the chemical suffix -ine. The related forms stearic and stearate were also derived from this Greek stem. Stearin is an older spelling and variant that remained in use for both the waxy material and related chemical substances.
Related word forms
How stearine is actually used
The word is now uncommon in general use and is chiefly encountered in historical contexts, candle making, and specialized chemical or industrial writing. It should not be confused with stearin, an older variant spelling.
Easily confused with stearine
Stearin is an older spelling and variant name for the same or closely related waxy fatty substance; modern chemical usage often distinguishes particular glycerides more precisely.