pectin

noun

pec·​tin ˈpek-tən 

: any of various water-soluble substances that bind adjacent cell walls in plant tissues and yield a gel which is the basis of fruit jellies

also : a commercial product rich in pectins

Examples of pectin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Eating apples: Apple pectin, a kind of plant fiber, can help manage niacin flushing. —Mark Gurarie, Health, 10 July 2024

Corn starch and pectin can also thicken the consistency of sauces, puddings, and mousses. —Jillian Kubala, Rd, Health, 1 July 2024

Remove jars from canner; cool on wire racks. Up the Heat For a hotter jelly, stir in serrano chile pepper slices with the pectin. —Bhg Test Kitchen, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 May 2024

Ingredients: 3 cups petal infusion, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1 box powdered pectin, 4 1/2 cups sugar Instructions Boil jars 15 minutes. —Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 6 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French pectine, from pectique

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pectin

noun

pec·​tin ˈpek-tən 

: any of various substances in plant tissues that dissolve in water and produce a gel which is the basis of fruit jellies

also : a commercial product rich in pectins

Medical Definition

pectin

noun

pec·​tin ˈpek-tən 

1

: any of various water-soluble substances that bind adjacent cell walls in plant tissues and yield a gel which is the basis of fruit jellies

2

: a commercial product rich in pectins and used chiefly in making jelly and other foods, in pharmaceutical products especially for the control of diarrhea, and in cosmetics