tannic acid

[tan-ik as-id]

noun

Chemistry.

1. a form of tannin with weak acidity, used commercially in dyes and wood stains; corrosion inhibitors; certain antihistamine, antitussive, and antidiarrhea medications; and especially wine, beer, and other beverages that benefit from its clarifying and aroma-enhancing properties: Aleppo galls are among the principal sources of tannic acid.

tannic acid

1. A lustrous, yellow-brown, amorphous substance, having the approximate chemical composition C ₇₆ H ₅₂ O ₄₆. It is derived from the bark and fruit of many plants and is used in tanning leather, in fixing dyes to materials, and in clarifying wine and beer.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tannic acid¹

First recorded in 1830–40