Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, pearl; pearly. Margaric acid. (a) (Physiol. Chem.) A fatty body, crystallizing in pearly scales, and obtained by digesting saponified fats (soaps) with an acid. It was formerly supposed to be an individual fatty acid, but is now known to be simply an intimate mixture of stearic and palmitic acids. (b) (Chem.) A white, crystalline substance, C17H34O2 of the fatty acid series, intermediate between palmitic and stearic acids, and obtained from the wax of certain lichens, from cetyl cyanide, and other sources.
MARGARIN
Mar"ga*rin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. margarine. See Margarite.] (Physiol.
Chem.)
Defn: A fatty substance, extracted from animal fats and certain vegetable oils, formerly supposed to be a definite compound of glycerin and margaric acid, but now known to be simply a mixture or combination of tristearin and teipalmitin.
MARGARINE
Mar"ga*rine, n. [F.]
1. Artificial butter; oleomargarine.
The word margarine shall mean all substances, whether compounds or
otherwise, prepared in imitation of butter, and whether mixed with
butter or not.
Margarine Act, 1887 (50 & 51 Vict. c. 29).
2. Margarin.
MARGARITACEOUS
Mar`ga*ri*ta"ceous, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, pearl; pearly.
MARGARITE
Mar"ga*rite, n. Etym: [L. margarita, Gr. marguerite.]