styptic — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Bringing about contraction of tissues; harsh, raw, austere.

   Examples

   Boyles turns to look over his shoulder, squinting into the styptic sun, and then flags a hand over his head.

2. That stops bleeding; especially, in a minor way, topically.

   Usage

   • broadly

   Broader terms

   hemostatic

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   The growth on top was a scrubby plant, unknown anywhere else on Malta, which was believed to have styptic qualities – it could staunch bleeding when packed on top of a wound […].

   But I waited while he dabbed at the cut with styptic powder.

Noun

1. A substance used for styptic results.

   Examples

   The powdered gum with resin is used as a styptic; and the mucilage has been recommended as an application to burns.

   Externally, it is applied as a styptic, and in solution, of various strengths, as an astringent.

   More examples (1)

   Knowledge of puffball's use as a styptic and for hemorrhoids reached Bass through the popular tradition.

Adjective

1. tending to check bleeding by contracting the tissues or blood vessels

   Synonyms

   hemostatic

Noun

1. a drug that causes contraction of body tissues and canals

   Synonyms

   astringentastringent drug

   Broader terms

   medicinemedicationmedicamentmedicinal drug