n. [ Cf. F. margarine. See Margarite. ] (Physiol. Chem.) 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 tripalmitin. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ F.; see margarin. ]
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). [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]
n. [ L. oleum oil + E. margarine, margarin. ]
☞ Oleomargarine was wrongly so named, as it contains no margarin proper, but olein, palmitin, and stearin, a mixture of palmitin and stearin having formerly been called margarin by mistake. [ 1913 Webster ]