pectin

[ pek-tin ]
See synonyms for pectin on Thesaurus.com
nounBiochemistry.
  1. a white, amorphous, colloidal carbohydrate of high molecular weight occurring in ripe fruits, especially in apples, currants, etc., and used in fruit jellies, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics for its thickening and emulsifying properties and its ability to solidify to a gel.

Origin of pectin

1
1830–40; <Greek pēkt(ós) fixed, congealed (see pectic) + -in2

Other words from pectin

  • pec·ti·na·ceous [pek-tuh-ney-shuhs], /ˌpɛk təˈneɪ ʃəs/, pec·tin·ous, adjective

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British Dictionary definitions for pectin

pectin

/ (ˈpɛktɪn) /


noun
  1. biochem any of the acidic hemicelluloses that occur in ripe fruit and vegetables: used in the manufacture of jams because of their ability to solidify to a gel when heated in a sugar solution (may be referred to on food labels as E440 (a))

Origin of pectin

1
C19: from Greek pēktos congealed, from pegnuein to set

Derived forms of pectin

  • pectic or pectinous, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for pectin

pectin

[ pĕktĭn ]


  1. Any of a group of carbohydrate substances found in the cell walls of plants and in the tissue between certain plant cells. Pectin is produced by the ripening of fruit and helps the ripe fruit remain firm. As the fruit overripens, the pectin breaks down into simple sugars (monosaccharides) and the fruit loses its shape and becomes soft. Pectins can be made to form gels, and are used in certain medicines and cosmetics and in making jellies.

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