rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryastringentTissue tightening
adjective / noun

astringent

uh-STRIN-juhnt/əˈstrɪndʒənt/

Causing body tissue to contract or tighten.

The strong tea's astringent taste makes the man pucker his lips.

A young adult Black man reacts to a sip of strong black tea with gently puckered lips, conveying its dry, mouth-tightening taste.
Etymology
aLatinto, toward
+stringentLatindraw tight, bind

The pieces convey drawing or binding tight. That physical action survives in the contraction of tissue and in the tightening, puckering sensation described by the taste sense.

In context

Deep Roots School of Foraging & Herbal Medicine60:34
tannins are astringent tasting so they feel like Persimmons in your mouth
Herbal Medicine 101

More examples

  • Strong tea leaves an astringent feeling in the mouth.
  • The critic's astringent comments spared none of the performers.
  • Several astringents are used in skin-care products.

Forms

astringent · astringents

Similar words

puckering
Describes the tightening sensation in the mouth rather than tissue action generally.
caustic
Suggests corrosive action or biting criticism rather than contraction.