citric acid

noun
1.
a white, crystalline, water-soluble powder, C 6 H 8 O 7 ⋅H 2 O, a tribasic acid having a strong acidic taste, an intermediate in the metabolism of carbohydrates occurring in many fruits, especially limes and lemons, obtained chiefly by fermentation of crude sugar or corn sugar: used chiefly in the flavoring of beverages, confections, and pharmaceuticals.
Origin
1805-15
Examples from the web for citric acid
  • Some ingredients were benign, such as citric acid and instant coffee.
  • citric acid rots you teeth so another penny for anything with citric acid in it.
  • We use citric acid, which is a much more natural flavor.
  • Then she brushes on sucrose to test my sense of sweet, citric acid to test sour, and quinine to test bitter.
  • The formula uses citric acid and an enzyme derived from papaya fruit.
British Dictionary definitions for citric acid

citric acid

noun
1.
a water-soluble weak tribasic acid found in many fruits, esp citrus fruits, and used in pharmaceuticals and as a flavouring (E330). It is extracted from citrus fruits or made by fermenting molasses and is an intermediate in carbohydrate metabolism. Formula: CH2(COOH)C(OH)(COOH)CH2COOH
citric acid in Medicine

citric acid cit·ric acid (sĭt'rĭk)
n.
A colorless translucent crystalline acid principally derived by fermentation of carbohydrates; an intermediate in metabolism.

citric acid in Science
citric acid
  (sĭt'rĭk)   
A white, odorless acid that has a sour taste and occurs widely in plants, especially in citrus fruit, and is formed during the Krebs cycle. It is used in medicine and as a flavoring. Ions of citric acid are a by-product of the metabolism of carbohydrates during the Krebs cycle.Chemical formula: C6H8O7.