n.
A powdery substance prepared synthetically by the methylation of natural cellulose and used as a food additive, a bulk-forming laxative, an emulsifier, and a thickener. It swells in water to form a gel.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
