the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
n. 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.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
n. A peculiar pearl-like substance extracted from hogs' lard; the solid fatty matter of certain vegetable oils. The purest margarin is obtained from the concrete part of olive-oil. It is a mixture of stearin and palmatin.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
n. a spread made chiefly from vegetable oils and used as a substitute for butter
n. a glyceryl ester of margaric acid
Word Usage
"Put in a little bit of butter or (vegetable) margarin."