Definition of "pectin" [pec•tin]

• Any of a group of water-soluble colloidal carbohydrates of high molecular weight found in ripe fruits, such as apples, plums, and grapefruit, and used to jell various foods, drugs, and cosmetics. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Apples are high in pectin, a soluble and help stabilize blood sugar levels."
• "Why go to that effort when pectin is readily available?"
• "The market for low ester pectin is the fastest growing of all pectin markets."