The Collaborative International Dictionary
Stearic \Ste*ar"ic\ (st[-e]*[a^]r"[i^]k), a. [Cf. F. st['e]arique.] (Physiol. Chem.) Pertaining to, or obtained from, stearin or tallow; resembling tallow.
Stearic acid (Chem.), a monobasic fatty acid, obtained in the form of white crystalline scales, soluble in alcohol and ether. It melts to an oily liquid at 69[deg]C.
Wiktionary
n. (context fatty acid English) octadecanoic acid; the most common saturated fatty acid; it is found in all animal and most vegetable oils and fats; it is used in the manufacture of soap etc.
WordNet
n. a waxy saturated fatty acid; occurs widely as a glyceride in animal and vegetable fats [syn: octadecanoic acid]
Wikipedia
Stearic acid ( , ) is a saturated fatty acid with an 18-carbon chain and has the IUPAC name octadecanoic acid. It is a waxy solid and its chemical formula is CHCOH. Its name comes from the Greek word στέαρ "stéar", which means tallow. The salts and esters of stearic acid are called stearates. As its ester, stearic acid is one of the most common saturated fatty acids found in nature following palmitic acid. The triglyceride derived from three molecules of stearic acid is called stearin.
Usage examples of "stearic acid".
It also contains a little sugar, fumaric acid, oxalic acid, about 3 per cent of cetrarin and 1 per cent of licheno-stearic acid.
Today, most candles are made of a composite of paraffin wax and stearic acid produced from animal fat.