ASTRINGENT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does astringent mean? 

• ASTRINGENT (noun)
  The noun ASTRINGENT has 1 sense:

1. a drug that causes contraction of body tissues and canals

  Familiarity information: ASTRINGENT used as a noun is very rare.

• ASTRINGENT (adjective)
  The adjective ASTRINGENT has 2 senses:

1. sour or bitter in taste

2. tending to draw together or constrict soft organic tissue

  Familiarity information: ASTRINGENT used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ASTRINGENT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A drug that causes contraction of body tissues and canals

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

astringent; astringent drug; styptic

Hypernyms ("astringent" is a kind of...):

medicament; medication; medicinal drug; medicine ((medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "astringent"):

alum (a double sulphate of aluminum and potassium that is used as an astringent (among other things))

Derivation:

astringe (become constricted or compressed)

astringe (constrict or bind or draw together)

astringent (tending to draw together or constrict soft organic tissue)

• ASTRINGENT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Sour or bitter in taste

Synonyms:

acerb; acerbic; astringent

Similar:

sour (having a sharp biting taste)

Derivation:

astringence; astringency (a sharp astringent taste; the taste experience when a substance causes the mouth to pucker)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Tending to draw together or constrict soft organic tissue

Context example:

astringent cosmetic lotions

Similar:

hemostatic; styptic (tending to check bleeding by contracting the tissues or blood vessels)

Attribute:

astringency; stypsis (the ability to contract or draw together soft body tissues to check blood flow or restrict secretion of fluids)

Antonym:

nonastringent (not astringent)

Derivation:

astringe (become constricted or compressed)

astringe (constrict or bind or draw together)

astringency (the ability to contract or draw together soft body tissues to check blood flow or restrict secretion of fluids)

astringent (a drug that causes contraction of body tissues and canals)

 Context examples 

Jambul seeds and fruits have important carminative and astringent properties and may reduce blood sugar levels.

(Devil's Foot/Jambul, NCI Thesaurus)

A aluminum solution with astringent, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.

(Domeboro Solution, NCI Thesaurus)

Catechol is used as an astringent, an antiseptic, and in photography, electroplating, and making other chemicals.

(Catechol, NCI Dictionary)

In addition, this agent exerts an astringent effect, thereby further preventing sweat formation.

(Antiperspirant Cream F511, NCI Thesaurus)

Uses include solvents, astringents, and anti-infective activity.

(Alcohol [Chemical Class], NCI Thesaurus)

A topical astringent that is used as an antiseptic agent.

(Aluminum Acetate, NCI Thesaurus)

Wilson’s hands, which moved incessantly in and out, had been stained with some astringent juice with the purpose of preventing them from puffing, and so great was the contrast between them and his white forearms, that I imagined that he was wearing dark, close-fitting gloves until my uncle explained the matter in a whisper.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A cream formulation containing aluminum chlorohydrate with astringent and antiperspirant activities.

(Antiperspirant Cream F511, NCI Thesaurus)