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tannin

[ tan-in ]
/ ˈtæn ɪn /

noun

Chemistry. any of a group of astringent vegetable principles or compounds, chiefly complex glucosides of catechol and pyrogallol, as the reddish compound that gives the tanning properties to oak bark or the whitish compound that occurs in large quantities in nutgalls. See also tannic acid.
any of these compounds occurring in wine and imparting an astringent taste, especially in red wine.

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Origin of tannin

First recorded in 1795–1805; earlier tanin, from French; see origin at tan1, -in2

OTHER WORDS FROM tannin

non·tan·nin, noun

Words nearby tannin

Tannhäuser, tannic, tannic acid, tannie, tanniferous, tannin, tanning, tanning bed, tannish, Tannoy, tan oak
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for tannin

British Dictionary definitions for tannin

tannin
/ (ˈtænɪn) /

noun

any of a class of yellowish or brownish solid compounds found in many plants and used as tanning agents, mordants, medical astringents, etc. Tannins are derivatives of gallic acid with the approximate formula C 76 H 52 O 46Also called: tannic acid

Word Origin for tannin

C19: from French tanin, from tan 1
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 tannin

tannin
[ tăn′ĭn ]

Any of various compounds, including tannic acid, that occur naturally in the bark and fruit of various plants, especially the nutgalls, certain oaks, and sumac. Tannins are polyphenols, and form yellowish to light brown amorphous masses that can be powdery, flaky, or spongy. They bind proteins and are used in dyeing, in tanning leather, in clarifying wine and beer, and as an astringent in medicine. Tannins also give color and flavor to black tea.
Any of various other substances that promote the tanning of leather, such as chromium salts.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.