tannin

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noun tan·nin \ ˈta-nən \

Definition of tannin

1 :any of various soluble astringent complex phenolic substances of plant origin used especially in tanning leather and dyeing textiles, manufacturing ink, clarifying wine and beer, and in medicine

2 :a substance that has a tanning effect

See tannin defined for English-language learners

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Recent Examples of tannin from the Web

A single fruit contains many different types of tannins.

— jordan c. axelson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "UW-Madison spinoff company trying to improve diet of patients on feeding tubes," 12 Aug. 2017
The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa ($22) was another good deal—with dark fruit, a licorice note, and mellow tannins—but the 2014 Cabernet from the Central Coast ($19) was much less attractive, with a strong olive-y taste.

— elin mccoy, Bloomberg.com, "Are the Wines from Costco, Amazon, or Hyatt Any Good? A Taste Test," 31 July 2017
By 1996, Bodegas Torres, with Miguel A. Torres as its president, produced its first healthy ancestral grape species: Garró, a tannin-heavy, dark blue grape.

— matthew sedacca, The Atlantic, "Resurrecting Ancient Wines That Can Survive Climate Change," 17 July 2017
See, Greenville's water isn't crystal clear due to the tannins that give it a rather distinctive beigey cast.

— wanda mckinney, Southern Living, "Why There Are So Many Great Mississippi Writers," 11 July 2017
For the most part, the dark-skinned grape creates wines that are medium- to full-bodied, with deep, dark color, grippy tannins and good acidity, especially in Old World versions.

— michael austin, chicagotribune.com, "Syrah is like a violin, and shiraz is like a fiddle (but sometimes not)," 20 June 2017
High-resin woods, like spruce, pine, arborvitae and juniper, take longer to break down in the compost pile, as do oak and cottonwood tree leaves, which are high in tannin.

— betty cahill, The Denver Post, "Punch List: The third week in June is about time to harvest garlic in the Colorado garden," 16 June 2017
To a bottle, the wines project lush artificial cherry flavors, bits of vanillin and oak, soft tannins — and usually a palpable level of residual sugar, serving to mask whatever flaws may lie within.

— patrick comiskey, latimes.com, "Why blending wine is one of the fastest growing trends in the industry," 15 June 2017
Freeman said acidity, sweetness, tannin and use of oak all became part of the equation.

— andy perdue, The Seattle Times, "A Seattle winemaker has created the perfect red and white blends for P.F. Chang’s," 8 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tannin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of tannin

French, from tanner to tan

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First Known Use: 1802

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TANNIN Defined for English Language Learners

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noun

Definition of tannin for English Language Learners

: a reddish acid that comes from plants, is used in making ink and leather, and occurs in various foods and drinks (such as wine)

TANNIN Defined for Kids

tannin

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noun tan·nin \ ˈta-nən \

Definition of tannin for Students

:a substance often made from oak bark or sumac and used in tanning animal hides, dyeing fabric and yarn, and making ink

Medical Dictionary

tannin

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noun tan·nin \ ˈtan-ən \

medical Definition of tannin

1 :any of various soluble astringent complex phenolic substances of plant origin used in tanning, dyeing, the making of ink, and in medicine as astringents and formerly in the treatment of burns

2 :a substance that has a tanning effect

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See words that rhyme with tannin Spanish Central: Translation of tannin Nglish: Translation of tannin for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of tannin for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tannin

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tannin

Definition of tannin

Recent Examples of tannin from the Web

Origin and Etymology of tannin

TANNIN Defined for English Language Learners

tannin

Definition of tannin for English Language Learners

TANNIN Defined for Kids

tannin

Definition of tannin for Students

Medical Dictionary

tannin

medical Definition of tannin

Learn More about tannin

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