citric acid

UK: /ˌsɪtrɪkˈæsɪd/ US: /ˈsɪtrɪk ˈæsɪd/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

cit•ric ac•id /ˈsɪtrɪk ˈæsɪd/  n. [uncountable]

1. Chemistry a kind of acid occurring esp. in citrus fruits, used chiefly as a flavoring.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

cit′ric ac′id, 

1. Chemistry a white, crystalline, water-soluble powder, C₆H₈O₇·H₂O, a tribasic acid having a strong acidic taste, an intermediate in the metabolism of carbohydrates occurring in many fruits, esp. limes and lemons, obtained chiefly by fermentation of crude sugar or corn sugar: used chiefly in the flavoring of beverages, confections, and pharmaceuticals.

• 1805–15

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

citric acid noun

1. a water-soluble weak tribasic acid found in many fruits, esp citrus fruits, and used in pharmaceuticals and as a flavouring (E330). It is extracted from citrus fruits or made by fermenting molasses and is an intermediate in carbohydrate metabolism. Formula: CH₂(COOH)C(OH)(COOH)CH₂COOH