Lexic.us

Definition of Tragacanth

1. Noun. A gum used in pharmacy, adhesives, and textile printing.

Definition of Tragacanth

1. n. A kind of gum procured from a spiny leguminous shrub (Astragalus gummifer) of Western Asia, and other species of Astragalus. It comes in hard whitish or yellowish flakes or filaments, and is nearly insoluble in water, but slowly swells into a mucilaginous mass, which is used as a substitute for gum arabic in medicine and the arts. Called also gum tragacanth.

Definition of Tragacanth

1. Noun. a polysaccharide gum, extracted from several species of leguminous plants of the genus ''Astragalus'', used as a food additive ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Tragacanth

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Tragacanth

1. A kind of gum procured from a spiny leguminous shrub (Astragalus gummifer) of Western Asia, and other species of Astragalus. It comes in hard whitish or yellowish flakes or filaments, and is nearly insoluble in water, but slowly swells into a mucilaginous mass, which is used as a substitute for gum arabic in medicine and the arts. Synonym: gum tragacanth. Origin: L. Tragacanthum tragacanth, tragacantha the plant producing tragacanth, Gr. A he-goat + a thorn: cf. F. Tragacanthe. (11 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Tragacanth

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