English Explanatory Dictionary

alum

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An astringent salt, usually occurring in the form of pale crystals, much used in the dyeing and tanning trade and in certain medicines, and now understood to be a double sulphate of potassium and aluminium (K₂SO₄·Al₂(SO₄)₃·24H₂O).
  2. Any similar double sulphate in which either or both of the potassium and aluminium is wholly or partly replaced by other univalent or tervalent cations.
verb
  1. To steep in, or otherwise impregnate with, a solution of alum; to treat with alum.
noun
  1. A past attendee or graduate (of any gender) of a college, university or other educational institution.

Pronunciation

/ˈæl.əm/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-alum (salt).wav /əˈlʌm/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-alum (alumnus).wav

Word forms

alum alums alumn aluming alumed alumni

Etymology

From Middle English alum, alum, alym, alyme, from Anglo-Norman alum, alun, from Latin alūmen.

Synonyms

potash alum alumni alumnx

Related words

aluminiferous aluniferous aluminiform aluminilite aluminise aluminize aluminite aluminous alunite alunogen apjohnite bosjemanite halotrichite kalinite websterite

Derived words

alum-basket alum cake alum earth alumed alumiferous alumina aluming alumish alumium alum mine alumocalcite alum rock alum root alumroot alum schist alum shale alum slate alumstone alum stone alum works ammonia alum burnt alum cake alum carmalum chrome alum chrome-ammonia alum common alum feather alum filter alum hemalum iron alum magnesia alum manganese alum manganoso-magnesium alum native alum papermaker's alum plume alum plumose alum potash alum pseudo alum rock alum Roman alum saccharine alum silver alum soda alum sodium alum unalumed
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