| bitter | 1. Having a peculiar, acrid, biting taste, like that of wormwood or an infusion of hops; as, a bitter medicine; bitter as aloes. 2. Causing pain or smart; piercing; painful; sharp; severe; as, a bitter cold day. 3. Causing, or fitted to cause, pain or distress to the mind; calamitous; poignant. "It is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God." (Jer. Ii. 19) 4. Characterised by sharpness, severity, or cruelty; harsh; stern; virulent; as, bitter reproach. "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them." (Col. Iii. 19) 5. Mournful; sad; distressing; painful; pitiable. "The Egyptians . . . Made their lives bitter with hard bondage." (Ex. I. 14) Bitter apple, Bitter cucumber, Bitter gourd. <botany> A name given to two European leguminous herbs, Vicia Orobus and Ervum Ervilia. To the bitter end, to the last extremity, however calamitous. Synonym: Acrid, sharp, harsh, pungent, stinging, cutting, severe, acrimonious. Origin: AS. Biter; akin to Goth. Baitrs, Icel. Bitr, Dan, Sw, D, & G. Bitter, OS. Bittar, fr. Root of E. Bite. See Bite. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| bitter apple | The peeled dried fruit of Citrullus colcynthis (family Cucurbitaceae), an herb of the sandy shores of the Mediterranean, resembling somewhat the watermelon plant; formerly widely used as a cathartic and laxative. Synonym: bitter apple. Origin: G. Kolokynthe, the round gourd or pumpkin (05 Mar 2000) |
| bitter melon | The fruit of a Chinese vine related to the cucumber. Bitter melon has been used as a treatment for diabetes, gastrointestinal complaints, some cancers and viral infections. It most recently has been tried as a treatment against HIV (administered most often by enema). Little information about efficacy or proper use is available. (09 Oct 1997) |
| bitter orange peel | The dried rind of the unripe but fully grown fruit; a flavoring agent. Dried, the dried outer part of the pericarp of the ripe, or nearly ripe, fruit; it contains not less than 2.5% v/w of volatile oil. The outer part of the pericarp of the ripe, or nearly ripe, fruit; used to prepare the tincture and the syrup. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bitter orange peel oil | A volatile oil obtained by expression from the fresh peel of the bitter orange. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bitter peptides | Peptides that have a bitter taste and may spoil certain foods; often contain high proportions of leucyl, valyl, and aromatic amino acid residues. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bitter principles | A class of plant substances with a bitter taste that produce a reflexive increase in saliva secretion as well as secretion of digestive juices. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bitter tonic | A tonic of bitter taste, such as quinine, gentian, quassia, etc., which acts chiefly by stimulating the appetite and improving digestion. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bitter water | A natural mineral water containing Epsom salt. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oil of bitter almond | Volatile oil from the dried ripe kernels of bitter almonds or from other kernels containing amygdalin, such as apricots, peaches, plums and cherries; obtained by steam distillation subsequent to maceration of the source with water. Formerly used as an antipruritic; poisonous-releases hydrocyanic acid (hydrogen cyanide). Only the oil free of hydrogen cyanide may be used to flavor liquors and foods. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oil of bitter orange | Volatile oil obtained by steam distillation from the fresh peel of Citrus aurantium (family Rutaceae). Aromatic material used as a flavoring agent in pharmaceuticals and foods and liquors; also used in perfumes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alum root | <botany> A North American herb (Heuchera Americana) of the Saxifrage family, whose root has astringent properties. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| anatomical root | That portion of a tooth extending from the cervical line to its apical extremity. (05 Mar 2000) |
| angelica root | The root of Angelica archangelica (family Umbelliferae); a tonic and stimulant that may cause nausea; used as a carminative, diuretic, and externally as a counterirritant. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior root | The motor root of a spinal nerve. Synonym: radix anterior, radix motoria, anterior root, motor root, radix ventralis. (05 Mar 2000) |