n.
Pronunciation: ' dek-str ə n
Variant: also dex · trine \ - ˌ str ē n, -str ə n \
Function: noun
Etymology: French dextrine, from dextr-
Date: 1838
: any of various water-soluble gummy polysaccharides (C 6 H 10 O 5 ) n obtained from starch by the action of heat, acids, or enzymes and used as adhesives, as sizes for paper and textiles, as thickening agents (as in syrups), and in beer