sour or bitter in taste There was something sharply astringent about her then, like biting inadvertently into a green banana. — McFee, William

Any drug that is known to cause tissues to contract, such as tannic acid, zinc oxide, or zinc sulfate.

Describes wines that leave a coarse, rough, furry or drying sensation in the mouth. Astringency is usually attributed to high tannin levels found in some red wines (and a few whites). High tannin leve [..]

1540s, from Latin astringentum (nominative astringens), present participle of astringere "to bind fast, tighten, contract," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + stringere "draw tight&quo [..]

A drug that causes cells to contract. Astringents are used in lotions to harden and protect the skin and to lessen the bleeding from minor abrasions. They are present in several other domestic product [..]

adj. Harsh in disposition or character.

An acidic or tannic solution (such as lemon juice or wine), which makes the skin of the mouth tighten up.

toner (pop)

 tasting term noting the harsh, bitter, and drying sensations in the mouth caused by high levels of tannin

A tea tasting term which describes a liquor which is pungent but inclined to be acidic.

[Taste] -- Bitter or strange acidic taste which leaves mouth peculiarly dry, like skin of some unripe fruits.

(n) a drug that causes contraction of body tissues and canals(adj) sour or bitter in taste(adj) tending to draw together or constrict soft organic tissue

A substance that contracts skin tissues and shrinks pores.

agent that constricts and binds by coagulation of proteins a cell surface

A substance that causes tissues, such as mucous membranes, to shrink or dry out.

A drying, puckering taste; tannic; can be derived from boiling the grains, long mashes, over sparging or sparging with hard water.

An agent that has a constricting or binding effect, i.e. one that checks hemorrhages or secretions by coagulation of proteins on a soft surface.  

A solution that removes oil from the skin. It is usually used after a facial wash to remove any remaining traces of a cleanser. It is designed to dry and shrink superficial tissues by reducing water and oil content.

Astringent wines taste hard or sharp. This happens because most of the time because the tannins in a wine did not fully ripen.

An astringent, as part of the facial cleansing system, is commonly known as toner, and it controls oily skin and lowers the pH of the face after cleansing.  Basically, it draws tissues together.

 Is used to close the pores of the skin thereby improving the tone and texture and making the skin firmer.

Any substance that constrict or contracts the skin locally.  May be natural or synthetic.   

A solution that removes oil from the skin. It is usually used after a facial wash to remove any remaining traces of a cleanser. It is designed to dry and shrink superficial tissues by reducing water and oil content.

Wines that are very high in tannins (or wines which have young tannins which have not matured) are often astringent. If the wine makes your mouth pucker to an almost uncomfortable level, then it is al [..]