pectin

American  

[pek-tin] / ˈpɛk tɪn /

noun

Biochemistry.

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.

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pectin British  

/ 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 ))

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pectin Scientific  

/ pĕk′tĭn /

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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Other Word Forms

• pectic adjective
• pectinaceous adjective
• pectinous adjective

Etymology

Origin of pectin

1830–40; < Greek pēkt ( ós ) fixed, congealed ( pectic ) + -in ²

Example Sentences

Sugar, pectin and a little lemon juice are the only other ingredients.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 18, 2023

The fiber pectin is found mainly in an apple's pulp.

From Salon • Aug. 10, 2023

Does it play an active role, or is it just a medium for the pectin, to make it more palatable or easier to consume?

From Seattle Times • Apr. 19, 2023

A study from Bangladesh on infants with persistent diarrhea found a rice-based diet containing green banana or pectin improved stool consistency and reduced the duration more than a diet of rice alone.

From Salon • Feb. 6, 2023

The ocular pectin in their eyes had developed.

From "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George

Related Words

• gelatin
• jelly
• marmalade