ˈglüt ə n noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French gluten, from Latin, glue; akin to Late Latin glut-, glus glue — more at clay
1. archaic
a. : a sticky substance : adhesive
b. : an albuminous element found in animal tissues
2.
a. : a tenacious tough elastic protein substance characteristic of flour (as from wheat) that gives to bread dough cohesiveness and ability to retain gas, that is usually obtained by washing the starch out of wheat flour, and that consists chiefly of gliadin and glutenin
b. : corn gluten
• glu·ten·ous -t( ə )nəs adjective