astringent

• POS: Adjective, Noun
• HYPHEN: as=trin=gent

CIDE DICTIONARY

astringent, a. [L. astringens, p. pr. of astringere: cf. F. astringent. See Astringe.].

•  Drawing together the tissues; binding; contracting; -- opposed to laxative; as, astringent medicines; a butter and astringent taste; astringent fruit.  [1913 Webster]
•  Stern; austere; as, an astringent type of virtue.  [1913 Webster]

astringent, 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."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

astringent, adj. & n.
--adj.
1 causing the contraction of body tissues.
2 checking bleeding.
3 severe, austere.
--n. an astringent substance or drug.

Derivative

astringency n. astringently adv.

Etymology

F f. L astringere (as AD-, stringere bind)

THESAURUS

astringent

Spartan, Spartanic, acerb, acerbic, acid, acidulous, acrid, acrimonious, alum, amaroidal, ascetic, asperous, austere, authoritarian, biting, bitter, bitter as gall, brisk, caustic, clamp, coarse, collapsible, compactable, compressible, compressor, constrictor, constringent, consumptive, contractible, contractile, contractional, contractive, contractor, cutting, deflationary, demanding, double-edged, dour, edged, escharotic, exacting, exigent, fierce, foldable, grim, hard, harsh, incisive, inclement, irritating, keen, meticulous, mordacious, mordant, mortified, nose-tickling, penetrating, piercing, pincer, piquant, poignant, puckery, pungent, restorative, rigorous, roborant, rough, rugged, scathing, severe, sharp, sour, stabbing, stern, stinging, strict, strident, stringent, styptic, styptic pencil, tart, tough, trenchant, ungentle, unsparing, vehement, violent, virulent, vise, vitriolic

ROGET THESAURUS

astringent

Contraction

N contraction, reduction, diminution, decrease of size, defalcation, decrement, lessening, shrinking, compaction, tabes, collapse, emaciation, attenuation, tabefaction, consumption, marasmus, atrophy, systole, neck, hourglass, condensation, compression, compactness, compendium, squeezing, strangulation, corrugation, astringency, astringents, sclerotics, contractility, compressibility, coarctation, inferiority in size, contracting, astringent, shrunk, contracted, strangulated, tabid, wizened, stunted, waning, neap, compact, unexpanded &c (expand), contractile, compressible, smaller &c (small).

Acridity

N acridity, astringency, bite, tear gas, smoke, acrid fumes, acrid, biting, astringent, sharp, harsh, bitter, (5) Sound (i) SOUND IN GENERAL.