Chem.
a colorless, waxlike, sparingly water-soluble, odorless solid, C 18 H 36 O 2 , the most common fatty acid, occurring as the glyceride in tallow and other animal fats and in some animal oils: used chiefly in the manufacture of soaps, stearates, candles, cosmetics, and in medicine in suppositories and pill coatings. Also called octadecanoic acid .
[ 1825-35 ]