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Glite Dictionary
pectic acid

pectic acid

1 7.5
An acid made when pectin in ripe fruits and some vegetables changes
  • noun
  • /ˈpɛktɪk ˈæsɪd/
  • Specialized
: ácido pectínico
  • During the ripening process, much of the fruit's pectin is converted into pectic acid.

Examples

  • The presence of pectic acid can affect the texture and quality of jam.

  • Researchers studied how pectic acid breaks down in different vegetables.

  • The pectic acid in apples is important.

  • Don't forget about pectic acid!

  • During the ripening process, much of the fruit's pectin is converted into pectic acid.

  • Researchers studied how pectic acid breaks down in different vegetables.

  • The presence of pectic acid can affect the texture and quality of jam.

Surface Forms

pectic acid singular
pectic acids plural

Morphology

pectic + acid

The term is a regular adjective + noun combination: 'pectic' means relating to pectin and 'acid' names a type of chemical, so 'pectic acid' is directly understood as an acid derived from or related to pectin. Although it's technical vocabulary, the compositional pattern is transparent and cross-linguistically regular, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Pectic acid gets its name from pectin, the 'jelly-like' part of fruit, and from acid meaning 'sour'. When fruit ripens, that jelly breaks down into an acidic substance, so the name explains the modern meaning 'an acidic form of pectin'.