tallow

American  

[tal-oh] / ˈtæl oʊ /

noun

1. the fatty tissue or suet of animals.

2. the harder fat of sheep, cattle, etc., separated by melting from the fibrous and membranous matter naturally mixed with it, and used to make candles, soap, etc.

3. any of various similar fatty substances.

   vegetable tallow.

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verb (used with object)

1. to smear with tallow.

tallow British  

/ ˈtæləʊ /

noun

1. a fatty substance consisting of a mixture of glycerides, including stearic, palmitic, and oleic acids and extracted chiefly from the suet of sheep and cattle: used for making soap, candles, food, etc

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verb

1. (tr) to cover or smear with tallow

Other Word Forms

• tallowy adjective
• untallowed adjective

Etymology

Origin of tallow

1300–50; Middle English talow, talgh; cognate with German Talg

Example Sentences

“Give me beef tallow and six raw eggs, too.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2026

In its forecast of food trends for 2026, Amazon.com’s Whole Foods Market said tallow is making a comeback as a “nourishing and nostalgic fat.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 14, 2026

Full-fat dairy is encouraged, while butter and beef tallow are viewed as acceptable.

From Barron's • Jan. 7, 2026

One reason is the perceived naturalness of foods from cows, including collagen and beef tallow.

From BBC • Oct. 6, 2025

Then, as the tallow dwindled and the flame began to gutter in the wet wax of the candle, a hunchback approached the dais.

From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz