bitter principle

noun Chemistry.

any of several hundred natural compounds, usually of vegetable origin, having a bitter taste, and not admitting of any chemical classification.

Origin of bitter principle

First recorded in 1930–35

Words nearby bitter principle

bitter lakes, bitter melon, bitter orange, bitter pill, bitter pill to swallow, bitter principle, bitter rot, bitterbark, bitterbrush, bittercress, bitterender

British Dictionary definitions for bitter principle

bitter principle

noun

any of various bitter-tasting substances, such as aloin, usually extracted from plants