rennet
noun
ren·net ˈre-nət 
1
a
: the contents of the stomach of an unweaned animal and especially a calf
b
: the lining membrane of a stomach or one of its compartments (such as the fourth of a ruminant) used for curdling milk
also : a preparation of the stomach of animals used for this purpose
2
a
: rennin
b
: a substitute for rennin
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web After all, what is rennet if not the hormone replacement therapy of dairy? 
H Conley, Bon Appétit, 22 June 2022 Real Parmigiano-Reggiano is made from just three ingredients: locally produced milk no more than 24 hours old, salt and rennet (a natural enzyme taken from calf intestine). Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes, 2 June 2022 Parmigiano Reggiano contains only three ingredients: milk, salt, and rennet, and is produced in a specific region, which gets it a Denominazione d’Origine Protetta (DOP) or Protected Designation of Origin label. Michelle Cheng, Quartz, 27 May 2022 Most rennet, or more specifically its key component chymosin, is derived from bacterial sources these days. Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2022 Precision fermentation, which has been used for many years for insulin, or food ingredients such as rennet, is already presenting remarkable progress, potentially solving protein and other production gaps. Miray Zaki, Time, 1 Oct. 2021 Cow, sheep, goat or nondairy milk is heated, and cultures — including Penicillium roqueforti or glaucum — and rennet are added. Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2021 Paneer is a fresh cheese, often curdled with lemon juice or vinegar, rather than rennet, and pressed into a block. New York Times, 28 July 2021 It’s made with sweetened milk and rennet, the digestive enzyme that curdles milk. Cathy Jakicic, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 21 July 2021 See More
H Conley, Bon Appétit, 22 June 2022 Real Parmigiano-Reggiano is made from just three ingredients: locally produced milk no more than 24 hours old, salt and rennet (a natural enzyme taken from calf intestine). Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes, 2 June 2022 Parmigiano Reggiano contains only three ingredients: milk, salt, and rennet, and is produced in a specific region, which gets it a Denominazione d’Origine Protetta (DOP) or Protected Designation of Origin label. Michelle Cheng, Quartz, 27 May 2022 Most rennet, or more specifically its key component chymosin, is derived from bacterial sources these days. Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2022 Precision fermentation, which has been used for many years for insulin, or food ingredients such as rennet, is already presenting remarkable progress, potentially solving protein and other production gaps. Miray Zaki, Time, 1 Oct. 2021 Cow, sheep, goat or nondairy milk is heated, and cultures — including Penicillium roqueforti or glaucum — and rennet are added. Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2021 Paneer is a fresh cheese, often curdled with lemon juice or vinegar, rather than rennet, and pressed into a block. New York Times, 28 July 2021 It’s made with sweetened milk and rennet, the digestive enzyme that curdles milk. Cathy Jakicic, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 21 July 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Middle English *rennen to cause to coagulate, from Old English gerennan, from ge- together + *rennan to cause to run; akin to Old High German rennen to cause to run, Old English rinnan to run — more at co-, run
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Medical Definition
rennet
noun
ren·net ˈren-ət
1
a
: the contents of the stomach of an unweaned animal and especially a calf
b
: the lining membrane of a stomach or one of its compartments (as the fourth of a ruminant) used for curdling milk
also : a preparation of the stomach of animals used for this purpose
2
a
: rennin
b
: a substitute for rennin