citric acid


noun
  1. a white, crystalline, water-soluble powder, C6H8O7⋅H2O, a tribasic acid having a strong acidic taste, an intermediate in the metabolism of carbohydrates occurring in many fruits, especially limes and lemons, obtained chiefly by fermentation of crude sugar or corn sugar: used chiefly in the flavoring of beverages, confections, and pharmaceuticals.

Origin of citric acid

1
First recorded in 1805–15

Words Nearby citric acid

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How to use citric acid in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for citric acid

citric acid

noun
  1. a water-soluble weak tribasic acid found in many fruits, esp citrus fruits, and used in pharmaceuticals and as a flavouring (E330). It is extracted from citrus fruits or made by fermenting molasses and is an intermediate in carbohydrate metabolism. Formula: CH 2 (COOH)C(OH)(COOH)CH 2 COOH

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 citric acid

citric acid

[ sĭtrĭk ]


  1. A white, odorless acid that has a sour taste and occurs widely in plants, especially in citrus fruit, and is formed during the Krebs cycle. It is used in medicine and as a flavoring. Ions of citric acid are a by-product of the metabolism of carbohydrates during the Krebs cycle.Chemical formula: C6H8O7.

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