Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The quality of being astringent; especially, that property in certain substances by which they cause contraction of soft or relaxed parts of the body: as, the astringency of acids or bitters.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The quality of being astringent; the power of contracting the parts of the body; that quality in medicines or other substances which causes contraction of the organic textures.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun An astringent taste.
  • noun That which acts as an astringent, causing contraction of soft tissue to restrict the flow of blood.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a sharp astringent taste; the taste experience when a substance causes the mouth to pucker
  • noun the ability to contract or draw together soft body tissues to check blood flow or restrict secretion of fluids

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

astringent +‎ -cy

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Examples

  • It is then good tasted, and somewhat nutritive, and it loses, by the process, the whole of the astringency which is so disagreeable in the recent fruit.

    Townsend Chapter 8 1839

  • What the winemakers seem to be going for is consistent, red and blue fruit with a gripping astringency and a hint of vegetal/pepper character, which to me is not a mortal sin.

    The New York Cork Report: 2009

  • I do think it's appropriate to use the term (after all, that slight chalkiness is not astringency, and needs some kind of term).

    TasteCamp 2009: An Interview with Nick Gorevic 2009

  • Anxiety might exist during various levels of astringency as great as it might remain utterly constant, come as great as go or appear unexpected (and acutely as in an stress attack).

    Archive 2009-11-01 admin 2009

  • To temper dark malts' roasted astringency, yet retain the sinister tint, the grains are cold-steeped in water.

    Food Republic: 5 Black IPAs To Drink Now Food Republic 2011

  • By virtue of their fragrance and astringency, spices were classified as heating and drying (by and large), therefore counteracting all diseases classed as wet or cold.

    A Conversation with Jack Turner 2010

  • There was a fair amount of astringency in all of the wines.

    The Puzzle of Portuguese Wine Lettie Teague 2011

  • What the winemakers seem to be going for is consistent, red and blue fruit with a gripping astringency and a hint of vegetal/pepper character, which to me is not a mortal sin.

    TasteCamp 2009

  • Sencha Tasting notes: Well balanced and bright, with a woodsy astringency.

    Tea's Got a Brand New Bag 2011

  • To temper dark malts' roasted astringency, yet retain the sinister tint, the grains are cold-steeped in water.

    Food Republic: 5 Black IPAs To Drink Now Food Republic 2011

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