as⋅trin⋅gent
[uh-strin-juh
nt] 
| 1. | Medicine/Medical. contracting; constrictive; styptic. |
| 2. | harshly biting; caustic: his astringent criticism. |
| 3. | stern or severe; austere. |
| 4. | sharply incisive; pungent: astringent wit. |
| 5. | Medicine/Medical. a substance that contracts the tissues or canals of the body, thereby diminishing discharges, as of mucus or blood. |
| 6. | a cosmetic that cleans the skin and constricts the pores. |
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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| as·trin·gent (ə-strĭn'jənt) adj.
[Latin astringēns, astringent-, present participle of astringere, to bind fast : ad-, ad- + stringere, to bind; see streig- in Indo-European roots.] as·trin'gen·cy n., as·trin'gent·ly adv. |
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Astringent
As*trin"gent\ (-jent), a. [L. astringens, p. pr. of astringere: cf. F. astringent. See Astringe.]1. Drawing together the tissues; binding; contracting; -- opposed to laxative; as, astringent medicines; a butter and astringent taste; astringent fruit. 2. Stern; austere; as, an astringent type of virtue.Astringent
As*trin"gent\, n. A medicine or other substance that produces contraction in the soft organic textures, and checks discharges of blood, mucus, etc. External astringents are called styptics. --Dunglison.Cite This Source
astringent (adj.)
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Main Entry: 1as·trin·gent
Pronunciation: &-'strin-j&nt
Function: adjective
: having the property of drawing together thesoft organic tissues <astringent cosmetic lotions>: a : tending to shrink mucous membranes or raw or exposed tissues : checking discharge (as of serum or mucus) : STYPTIC b : tending to pucker the tissues of the mouth <astringent fruits and wines> —as·trin·gen·cy /-j&n-sE/ noun plural -cies
Main Entry: 2astringent
Function: noun
: an astringent agent or substance
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astringent as·trin·gent (ə-strĭn'jənt)
adj.
Causing contraction of tissues, arrest of secretion, or control of bleeding. n.
A substance or preparation, such as alum, that draws together or constricts body tissues and is effective in stopping the flow of blood or other secretions.
as·trin'gen·cy n.
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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| astringent (ə-strĭn'jənt) Pronunciation Key
A substance or preparation, such as alum, that draws together or constricts body tissues, resulting in decreased flow of blood or other secretions. |
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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astringent
any of a group of substances that cause the contraction or shrinkage of tissues and that dry up secretions. Astringents are usually classified into three groups according to their mode of action: (1) those that decrease the blood supply by narrowing the small blood vessels (e.g., epinephrine and cocaine), (2) those that abstract water from the tissue (e.g., glycerol and alcohol), and (3) those that coagulate the superficial tissue layers into a crust (e.g., metallic astringents, such as calamine or alum). Used in medicine to reduce swollen mucous membranes that result from inflammations of the nasal, gastrointestinal, and urinary passages, astringents are also frequently employed to dry up excessive secretions and (in this connection they are often known as styptics) to stop bleeding
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