humectant

[ hyoo-mek-tuh nt or, often, yoo- ]
/ hyuˈmɛk tənt or, often, yu- /

noun

a substance that absorbs or helps another substance retain moisture, as glycerol.

adjective

moistening; diluting.
of or relating to a humectant or humectants.

Origin of humectant

1650–60; < Latin hūmectant- (stem of ( h)ūmectāns), present participle of ( h)ūmectāre to moisten, equivalent to ( h)ūmect(us) moist, damp (see humid) + -ant- -ant

Words nearby humectant

humdinger, humdrum, hume, hume's law, hume, david, humectant, humeral, humeral veil, humeroradial, humeroscapular, humeroulnar

Example sentences from the Web for humectant

British Dictionary definitions for humectant

humectant
/ (hjuːˈmɛktənt) /

adjective

producing moisture

noun

a substance added to another substance to keep it moist

Word Origin for humectant

C17: from Latin ūmectāre to wet, from ūmēre to be moist, from ūmor moisture; see humour