Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
pectin
pec′tin
(pĕk′tĭ)
, Noun.
[Gr.
πηκτόσ
curdled, congealed, from πηγνύναι
to make fast or stiff: cf. F. pectine
.] (Chem.)
One of a series of carbohydrates, commonly called
vegetable jelly
, found very widely distributed in the vegetable kingdom, especially in ripe fleshy fruits, as apples, cranberries, etc. It is extracted as variously colored, translucent substances, which are soluble in hot water but become viscous on cooling. It is commonly used in making fruit jelllies.