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humectant

[ hyoo-mek-tuhnt or, often, yoo- ]
/ hyuˈmɛk tənt or, often, yu- /
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noun
a substance that absorbs or helps another substance retain moisture, as glycerol.
adjective
moistening; diluting.
of or relating to a humectant or humectants.
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Origin of humectant

1650–60; <Latin hūmectant- (stem of (h)ūmectāns), present participle of (h)ūmectāre to moisten, equivalent to (h)ūmect(us) moist, damp (see humid) + -ant--ant

Words nearby humectant

humbug, humbuggery, humdinger, humdrum, Hume, humectant, Hume, David, humeral, humeral veil, humerus, Hume's law
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use humectant in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for humectant

humectant
/ (hjuːˈmɛktənt) /
adjective
producing moisture
noun
a substance added to another substance to keep it moist

Word Origin for humectant

C17: from Latin ūmectāre to wet, from ūmēre to be moist, from ūmor moisture; see humour
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
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