astringent

An astringent substance is a chemical substance that tends to shrink or constrict body tissues, usually locally after topical medicinal application. The word "astringent" derives from Latin astringere, meaning "to bind fast". Two common examples are calamine lotion and witch hazel. Astringency is also the dry, puckering mouthfeel caused by tannins found in many fruits such as blackthorn, bird cherry and persimmon fruits. The tannins denature the salivary proteins, causing a rough "sandpapery" sensation in the mouth. Astringency tastes unpleasant to many mammals (including humans), which tend to avoid eating astringent fruit; conversely, birds do not taste astringency and readily eat these fruit. It is thought that fruit astringency gives a selective advantage to some plant varieties because birds are better than mammals at long-distance seed dispersal, often flying a great distance before passing the seeds in their droppings.
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adj. astringent, severe

n. astringent, substance which causes contraction; substance that stops bleeding

adj. astringent, severe; harsh; constrictive

(n.)
A medicine or other substance that produces contraction in the soft organic textures, and checks discharges of blood, mucus, etc.
  

(a.)
Stern; austere; as, an astringent type of virtue.
  

(a.)
Drawing together the tissues; binding; contracting; -- opposed to laxative; as, astringent medicines; a butter and astringent taste; astringent fruit.