thickener

American  

[thik-uh-ner] / ˈθɪk ə nər /

noun

1. something that thickens.

2. an apparatus for the sedimentation and removal of solids suspended in various liquids.

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Etymology

Origin of thickener

First recorded in 1645–55; thicken + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Guar gum, a thickener often added to bubble tea and generally safe in small quantities, may also contribute to constipation when consumed frequently.

From Science Daily • Mar. 1, 2026

“That’s adding at least a little thickener to weak sauce,” Mr. Biggs wrote, “but it’s not good enough.”

From New York Times • Dec. 13, 2022

For generations, Southerners have boiled and steamed the okra pod, or used it as a nutritious thickener for soups and stews.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 18, 2022

And it was no wonder the brand was giving “stick to your ribs” a bad connotation: a scan of the bottle’s ingredients shows that its fourth-listed ingredient is the thickener cornstarch.

From Washington Post • Jun. 29, 2022

The most ordinary and cheapest thickener was the coal pitch.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 821, September 26, 1891 by Various