thickener
Definition
Noun: 1. A substance added to a liquid to make it thicker or more viscous: A "thickener" is any material whose primary purpose is to increase the consistency, density, or viscosity of a mixture, often in cooking, manufacturing, or chemistry.
Usage
The word "thickener" is used to identify the specific ingredient or agent that causes thickening. It is typically a countable noun (e.g., a thickener, two thickeners).
Examples
- Flour is a common thickener for soups and sauces.
- This recipe calls for cornstarch as a thickener.
- Industrial processes often use specialized chemical thickeners.
Advanced Usage
- Technical/Industrial Context: In fields like paint manufacturing, textile printing, or cosmetics, "thickener" refers to specific agents (e.g., associative thickeners, cellulose-based thickeners) that control the flow and stability of the product.
- Xanthan gum is an effective thickener and stabilizer in gluten-free baking.
Variants and Related Words
- Thicken (verb): To make or become thick or thicker.
- Simmer the sauce to thicken it.
- Thickening (noun/gerund): 1. The process of becoming thick. 2. A substance used to thicken; often used interchangeably with "thickener."
- The thickening of the custard took about ten minutes. (Process)
- Arrowroot is a good thickening. (Substance)
Synonyms
- Binding agent
- Gelling agent (specifically for forming gels)
- Stiffener
Antonyms
- Thinner (a substance used to make a liquid less viscous)
- Diluent
Noun
-
any material used to thicken
-
starch is used in cooking as a thickening
-
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