astringent

astringent
—astringency, n. —astringently, adv.
/euh strin"jeuhnt/, adj.
1. Med. contracting; constrictive; styptic.
2. harshly biting; caustic: his astringent criticism.
3. stern or severe; austere.
4. sharply incisive; pungent: astringent wit.
n.
5. Med. 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.
[1535-45; < L astringent- (s. of astringens) prp. of astringere to ASTRINGE; see -ENT]
Syn. 2, 3. sharp, harsh, rigorous. See acid.

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      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 (epinephrine and norepinephrine) 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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Universalium. 2010.

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  • astringent — astringent, ente [ astrɛ̃ʒɑ̃, ɑ̃t ] adj. et n. m. • 1537; lat. astringens, de astringere « serrer » 1 ♦ Méd. Qui exerce sur les tissus vivants un resserrement. Remède astringent, lotion astringente. N. m. Les astringents (alun, tanin, quinquina,… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • astringent — ASTRINGÉNT, Ă, astringenţi, te, adj., s.n. 1. adj. (Despre substanţe) Care contractează ţesuturile organismului. 2. s.n. Substanţă sau medicament folosit pentru combaterea secreţiilor organice exagerate. – Din fr. astringent, lat. astringens,… …   Dicționar Român

  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • astringent — [ə strin′jənt] adj. [L astringens, prp. of stringere, to contract < ad , to + stringere, draw tight: see STRICT] 1. that contracts body tissue and checks secretions, capillary bleeding, etc.; styptic 2. having a harsh, biting quality [an… …   English World dictionary

  • astringent — astringent, ente (a strin jan, jan t ) adj. Terme de médecine. Qui a la propriété de déterminer une sorte de crispation dans les tissus. Une substance astringente.    S. m. Les astringents. Le perchlorure de fer est un bon astringent. HISTORIQUE… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • astringent — ASTRINGENT, ENTE. adj. Qui resserre. Remède astringent. Herbe astringente. Poudre astringente. [b]f♛/b] Il est quelquefois substantif. Arrêter le sang avec des astringens …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • astringent — Astringent, [astring]ente. adj. v. Qui resserre. Remede astringent. herbe astringente. poudre astringente. Il est quelquefois subst. On luy a arresté le sang avec des astringents …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • astringent — ► ADJECTIVE 1) causing the contraction of body tissues. 2) (of taste or smell) sharp or bitter. 3) harsh or severe. ► NOUN ▪ an astringent lotion applied for medical or cosmetic purposes. DERIVATIVES astringency noun astringently …   English terms dictionary

  • 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. [1913 Webster] External astringents are called styptics. Dunglison. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • astringent — I adjective acid, acrid, acrimonious, adstrictorius, austere, bitter, caustic, dour, exigent, harsh, mordant, rough, severe, stern, strict, stringent, tart II index bitter (penetrating) …   Law dictionary

  • astringent — (adj.) 1540s, from L. astringentum (nom. astringens), prp. of astringere to bind fast, tighten, contract, from ad to (see AD (Cf. ad )) + stringere draw tight (see STRAIN (Cf. strain) (v.)). As a noun from 1620s …   Etymology dictionary

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