| 释义 |
humectant, a. and n.|hjuːˈmɛktənt|
[ad. L. hūmectānt-em, pres. pple. of hūmectāre to humect.]
A. adj.
1. ? Obs. Moistening, wetting.
1659H. More Immort. Soul iii. iv. (1662) 162 Which Fumes, if they be grosser and humectant, may raise [etc.].
2. Moisture-retaining.
1953Manuf. Chemist May 202/2 The humectant action is provided by a combination of glycerin and propylene glycol. 1960McGraw-Hill Encycl. Sci. & Technol. VI. 221/1 Because of its humectant properties, it is sprayed on tobacco before it is processed to prevent crumbling.
B. n.
1. Med. A diluent.
1822–34Good's Study Med. (ed. 4) I. 562 Those medicines..supposed capable of dissolving that tenacity..denominated Diluents, Humectants, and Attenuants.
2. A substance used to reduce the loss of moisture; spec. a food additive that does this.
1854–67C. A. Harris Dict. Med. Terminol., Humectant... In surgery, the substance for retaining moisture in a water dressing. 1951M. B. Jacobs Chem. & Technol. Food & Food Products (ed. 2) III. xxxvii. 1979 Substances which retain moisture are known as humectants. They..prevent loss of moisture when incorporated into the foodstuff. 1954Chem. & Engin. News 15 Feb. 685/2 The product can be used as..a humectant for cellulose and paper products, polishes, and tobacco. 1963Residue Rev. II. 54 Some humectants have been used experimentally to reduce evaporation under conditions of low humidity... Rain can, of course, wash the chemical from the leaf surface. 1972Sci. Amer. Mar. 19/3 Humectants, which are hygroscopic, offset changes in the humidity of the environment to which food is exposed. |