Bittering

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The process of making a beverage or dish taste bitter by adding a bittering agent
2. Using ingredients to impart a sharp, bitter flavor to foods or liquids
3. The act of introducing bitter substances to enhance or balance the taste

Etymology: "Bittering" is the present participle and gerund of "bitter," the verb meaning to make something bitter. Its history is simply the adjective "bitter" with the suffix "-ing" added to it. "Bitter" goes back to Old English "biter," meaning sharp-tasting or painful, so the verb built from it carries that same sense of an unpleasant, harsh taste.

Synonyms: acrid, sour, harsh

Antonyms: sweet, pleasant